Remembering a prayer...

 

Since my little sweet cheeks turned two, we have most definitely entered the phase of the "terrib..", I mean, "terrific" twos.  Her vocabulary is growing at a rapid pace, yet we are not quite grasping the translation of all of these words.  She wants to climb stairs, buckle, sit in a real seat... all by herself.  Needless to say, when mommy doesn't quite understand or feels the need to assist at times, our little sweet cheeks here is not a happy camper!  I have often said in conversations that she has been our most challenging child yet.  

But the other night as I was putting her to bed and singing to her a song that reflects the blessing that she is to us, it helped me remember how much I had longed for this little girl.  The song speaks of Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel and how she longed for a child.  This was my prayer for Sophie.  We waited for over a year, wondering if we would have another child, already so blessed with our first two sweet girls.  God's timing is perfect though as I cannot imagine trying to start homeschooling with a newborn baby and a toddler.  

She is and will probably always be a challenging child.  But I hope to always remember how much she was prayed for and how blessed we are to have her in our little family.  I was reminded in my quiet time this week that "children are a reward from Him." Psalm 127:3  I have done nothing to deserve being a mother to three healthy girls, but I know they are from the Lord, entrusted into my care for as long as He wills.  

I just had to share these pictures!  She was taking care of her baby, sharing her pacifier and then her blankie.    But the temptation got the better of her and she just had have a little taste of it back.  Pray for her in the next couple of weeks as we tell "paci" bye-bye.  

Coming home...

As a child, I had many heroes in my life, but none compared to my parents, Rick & Debbie Miller.  Growing up as a missionary kid in Japan, I never doubted my parents decisions to move when they felt God leading us to move.  It wasn't always easy, but there was still no doubt.  We spent over thirteen years in Japan in which my parents helped to start Japanese churches, taught English & cooking classes, and were even dorm parents for a year at our mission's boarding school.  Now that I am a parent, my respect for them has only grown.  It took tremendous sacrifice for my mother to send me away to boarding school as a six year old only able to see me every three months.  It still amazes me that they traveled home to the States for a break with a six year old, two year old, and newborn baby, not to mention the ten suitcases.  

About a year ago, my parents shared their desire again to return to Japan.  Though the thoughts of missing the best Papa & Nana in the world were often overwhelming, my sisters and our families were in complete agreement that this was God's will for all of us.  Needless to say, the past nine months especially have been difficult at times.  But technology has definitely been a blessing!  

For many different reasons, my parents are returning to us for which we are so thankful and elated!  Here is a portion of my parents last prayer letter...

"We are certain that the Lord brought us to Central Baptist Church for 'such a time as this'. We have witnessed the Lord do some incredible things in the lives of His saints here at Central. By His grace, many lives have been touched and significant strides made in the spiritual growth of His church. The Lord has also used adversity in our lives to prepare us for both current and future ministry. We are so grateful for the things the Lord has taught us this past year, some painful, but all beneficial."

Over the past nine months, they have left a thriving ministry in the US, sold their dream home with all the furnishings, said good-bye to their children and grandchildren, moved around the world to a small apartment that eventually filled with mold covering their ceiling and furniture, endured a difficult surgery, and then all of the challenges that ministry in another country can bring.  Instead of asking "Why?", they asked "How can we learn from this?  How does God want to use us right where we are?"  Through every circumstance, they chose joy!   

Please pray for them as they return tomorrow.  God has already provided a place for them to live and we are still praying for a definite ministry position for them.  God is good, all the time!

A time to celebrate!

A Time for Everything

Sweet blossoms in our back yard

Our adventurous Sophie swinging on her belly.  

This was right before she landed on her head, which she has done several times since.

Since January, life has been a rollercoaster ride, at least for me it seems.  But I am slowly coming to grips with the fact that this is a season in my life that will one day move on to another season.  I do not desire to wish away this season, but instead to savor the blossoms & toddlers that come and go so quickly.  Ecclesiastes 3 came to mind midweek.  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven... a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to sprout... a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..."  

Losing a tooth, getting a ticket...

Chloe's third loose tooth

Marty's loose tooth

Since I last blogged, life has not stopped.  Our three weeks of sickness in which four out of the five of us were infected, never seemed to end.  Getting away to the beach was absolutely perfect after dealing with so much craziness.  Upon returning home, Naomi could barely hear anything we said, thus the beginning of round two of antibiotics for her double ear infection (in which I still don't think the meds are working.)  

But yesterday was our most adventurous day of all!  

Running late as usual to our home school group, I was granted my first (ever!) traffic ticket.  I will not go into details, but it was not for speeding, texting, or even doing my make-up while driving.  But I got a ticket!  

Then, within the hour, my poor sweet husband (who had been in pain all weekend) got one of his teeth removed due to infection.  But on the more positive side, our oldest finally lost one of her top teeth.  She was so excited!  

So in looking back over the past month, I have much to be thankful for.... that we only had colds & ear infections, rather than the yucky stuff! ....that we were able to rest away from everything as a family....  that my ticket wasn't due to a wreck or some other traumatic incident ... and that we have a really great dentist who we appreciate greatly!!!  God is still good!

Here is a smorgasbord of our daily life this past week...

Sophie, just after waking up... with her book & bear

First time putting shoes on by herself... ta da!

Chloe & I made homemade poptarts

The finished product!  Quite delicious!

The littlest Sleepwalker

It's been over a week since I last blogged, but after last night's incident, I just had to share and since I haven't gotten to talk to my parents in a few days, I thought this would be a fun way to share.  One of the reasons I haven't blogged in so long is due to the series of colds, fevers, coughs, ear infections, two doctor visits, and one pink eye scare.  Needless to say, this mama is a little low on sleep and was the last to be given the wonderful gift of this lovely sick bug.

Last night, with everyone finally back in their own beds and no longer sleeping in our closest (our quarantine room), I thought I'd get a full nights sleep, but of course, at 3 am, I awoke to my own sneezing.  Thank you, cold!  I thought I should check on Sophie, being that it was her first night back in her big girl bed (after being in the closet), and upon going back to her and Naomi's room, there is no Sophie!  Not in her bed, not in the top bunk with Naomi, not in the closet...    I searched the bathroom, hallway, Chloe's room, even the sheets I forgot to fold in front of the laundry room, no Sophie!  I'm about to panic and call for Marty, but then there I find her, curled up with her blankie and passy on the kitchen floor fast asleep.  She even stayed asleep when I layed her back in her bed.  The funniest part to me is imagining her waddling in her sleep sack (no legs, just a pouch) all the way down the hallway to the kitchen where she falls back to sleep on the only floor in our home that is not carpeted.  Life is certainly not dull in the Middleton house!

Here she is posing for me this morning.

P.S.  For you worried parents, our closet is on the larger size with an air vent, and the door stays open.  Just in case you were worried...

A Simple Valentine

Today was a simple Valentine's day, not by my choice, but more from forgetfulness.  In the past, I've had professional Valentine pictures taken of the girls, made homemade cards, breakfast, lunch, & supper centered around hearts & pink... the list could go on and on.  

Maybe it's having three kids now, maybe it's because I'm 32.  But anyway, today was a more simple Valentine.  For breakfast, the girls ate Valentine cookies that they made last night.  For gifts, I only remembered to get them books they might enjoy, red valentine cups, and heart marshmallows.  After my initial disappointment in myself this morning, I was able to sit back and smile at the girls excitement of heart marshmallows in hot chocolate and the vegan cheesy grits that my sweet husband made me.

My sweet Valentines

A Valentine on the run

Could just squeeze her cheeks

Valentine morning...

One of the highlights of the day though was when my sweet Chloe danced with her ballet class at a nearby retirement home.  Watching her give out the bookmarks that she and Naomi made was priceless.