A Santa's Heart

Recently I came across this letter of a parent sharing the details of Santa to a child that no longer believes.  I want to remember this when it comes time for the boys to ask these questions; although, I am hoping it not too soon.   

Dear Lucy,

Thank you for your letter. You asked a very good question: “Are you Santa?”

I know you’ve wanted the answer to this question for a long time, and I’ve had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.

The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa.

I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her. (And yes, Daddy helps, too.)

I imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.

This won’t make you Santa, though.

Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch.

It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you can’t measure or even hold in your hand. Here, I am talking about love, that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.

Santa is a teacher, and I have been his student, and now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people whose hearts he’s filled with joy.

With full hearts, people like Daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.

So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too.

I love you and I always will.

Mama

Dinner time prayers

Last before dinner Carter was throwing this huge fit in his high chair.  So I got him out and he climbed up into Owen's booster seat.  So Owen quickly sat in my seat, then what happened next is possibly one of the proudest Mommy moments.  Little Carter reached out for his big brothers hands and all three little guys thanked God for their Mommy, Daddy, and for each other and the food.   

Excuse the pictures of naked baby...he was about to eat some delicious chicken and broccoli alfredo. 

God Gave Me You!

I love music, I love how sometimes it puts what you are feeling and can't find the words to say in order.   I heard a song today and I feel its my song to my wonderful husband.  

Its Blake Shelton's  "God Gave Me You".  

I can't figure out how to embed it so you can watch her on our blog, but if you click this link

http://youtu.be/nCf2PoTuh4Q  you can go to youtube and watch it. 

I know I know...so sappy!   

Here are the lyrics: 
God Gave Me You

I’ve been a walking heartache
I’ve made a mess of me
The person that I’ve been lately
Ain’t who I wanna be

But you stay here right beside me
And watch as the storm blows through
And I need you

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you
Gave me you

There’s more here than what we’re seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You’ll always be love’s great martyr
And I’ll be the flattered fool
And I need you

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you

On my own I’m only
Half of what I could be
I can’t do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you, gave me you.
He gave me you. 

What I am loving Wednesday!

Well its starting to feel like fall around Ohio now.  The leaves are slowly changing and the fields are becoming that golden brown all of which makes me so excited for the holidays.  

Here are just  a few of what I am loving Wednesday ...

as always my husband and boys.  They are my strength, they are my everything.  I don't know what I would do without them.   

My in laws. 

I'm so thankful for their love.  We spent sometime with them on Monday evening and the boys were soooooo happy to see Mommaw and Poppaw.   They came to visit for a few short hours, but those hours have turned into many conversations the boys have talked all day about Poppaw playing with them and Mommaw coloring with them. I'm very blessed with the in laws I have, not many are as lucky as I am.

Our niece Brooke.  

We are so proud of her decision to be baptized last weekend.  She is growing up so fast. 

Of course we love all of our nieces and nephews.  Just wanted to share how extremely proud we are of our Brookie. 

Well only at this time of year until right after the 1st of Janauray can you find Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. 

We found one last weekend and I'm so happy its back.  I share the love of this with my sister in law Amanda. So, you can bet at the holidays you see a few of these :)

Bath & Body Works fall line.  

 My favorite right now is the pumpkin caramel latte soap. 

Cell Unload #2

 

One morning taking Andrew to work we saw this group of deer just eating under the apple tree. 

One of the few bonfires we had this summer.  I think we should have more net year! 

Jacob opening a few birthday gifts. 

Thanks to the Heiss' for the the cool McQueen car

He put it together really fast! 

Cell Phone Unload...

I have been horrible these summer months at blogging.  We have been so busy enjoying family time and the warmer weather.   So today I took the time to unload my cell phone, which had over 200 photos on it.  Ooooops, guess I should have done that earlier.   Here are some of our summer fun. 

Carter 14 months riding the big wheel

Daddy has been very dedicated to riding his bike to and from work.  This is one day when Daddy came riding home and the boys and I were outside waiting for him.  Jacob and Carter were very happy to see Daddy riding on in.  I just love this picture of the boys, as you can almost here Jacob asking Daddy all of the questions he typically does like "how fast did you go today daddy" "how many miles today" and on and on he goes.  And little Carter just staring up at Daddy. 

Carter 14 months 

This summer we attended a few Clippers games.  This game was very special to us as a family. 

We are just arriving to the game and sitting in our seats when a foul ball comes right towards us. 

Andrew has Carter as I am attempting to hop over the seat, with absolutely no clue where the ball 

is at this time.  Andrew puts Carter down to catch the ball flying right towards my head. Well...he missed!

Bounced off his hand, to my neck to the punk kid behind us. When I said kid I mean like a early 20 something kid, barely able to drink but chugging his beer.  The right thing to do in this situation would have been to give the crying child in front of this bully the ball, but nope...he sipped away on his beer.  As I contemplated paying him for it.  

Well unlike our luck another ball comes our direction but just behind us.  

And

The guy who caught it gave it to Jacob.  Jacob was so happy and still tells the story

how this guy yelled out to him and asked if he wanted it.  

This year our family purchased a Columbus Zoo membership.  We have spent many days, well worth our membership there.  We saw Jack Hanna.  I can't believe I forgot our camera and also my cell phone was dying.  So only snapped a few pictures before it all went dead.  Its been a great summer visiting. Its so nice because we are not pressured to make sure we see every animal.  Each time we go we let the kids pick which animal(s) they want to see.  Jacob has been picking the Kangroos, also known to Owen as

 the "Kick a Roos"  Owen picks the monkeys almost everytime.  

Its beginning to feel like fall here in Ohio and we are very anxious for the holidays and the rest of the year to come.  The boys are already asking when does the tree go up.  As excited as Andrew and I are this year for the holidays, new traditions with the boys...it may go up before Thanksgiving.  So if you are counting that could be 5-7 weeks from now the Woody house could be totally ready for Christmas!

Attitude

Lately I have felt like I was in a little bit of a funk.  Its funny because nothing is directly effecting me; however, I take in everyone's problems, worries and hurts and begin to allow that to get me down.  Oh and these dreary days are not helping the problem.   There seems to be so much negative in the world lately.   I don't understand why people can not get along, can't stay married, can't be happy and not cheat on their spouse. None of this is my problem...none of this is due to me causing any of it yet...I feel like I have to take on everyone's problems and fix them.  I can't...yet I allow the negative to get me in this funk.  

This morning while reading a few things I came across a friend who basically shared the same thoughts of being in a funk. Its amazing to me how God directed me to read her story, which quickly reminded me I have A LOT to be thankful for.  

I have a husband that is crazy about me, who loves me and loves our children just as much.  I have three healthy, full of energy little boys that adore me.   I serve a God that sees me, a child of God in spite of my failures and still chose to die for me.  

So now what? How can I change and or fi everyone's problems?   The answer ...I CANT..

I was reminded that all I can do is pray for the people I don't understand. Pray for the woman that cheats on her husband all while she doesn't realize the bigger issue in the long run of what she is doing to her husband and children.  Pray for those families that can't get along, who can't love like God loves us and to pray for the many friends that are going through divorce and to pray for those that are hurting.

I'm very thankful that God has directed us to the church we now attend.  Pastor Mike made a statement of how we either dwell on our problems never looking up or we always look up not realizing the blessings and the MISSION we have around us.   My mission to be the best mother, wife and child of God I can be.  

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1Peter 1:8 

"Shhh, baby's sleeping"

Owen loves anything to do with fire trucks...rarely will you find him without one even sleeping!

 

 

Carter asleep and Owen dressed him up. ha ha! 

Carter is still a cuddly little boy. He loves cuddling with Woody

Card to Uncle Bill

Jacob made this sweet card for his Uncle Bill during the time he was in the hospital.  I wanted to blog about it, so that I didn't forget his sweet and genuine gesture.  

The front of the card is a few different drawings of Jacob with Bill.  I am so thankful for the time our boys were able to spend with Bill.   One picture is of him fishing with Bill, other he's on Bill shoulders.  Its amazing to hear him and Owen talk about their Uncle Bill to others....most recently to Jacob's Sunday School.   Uncle Bill will forever be in all of our hearts.   

Thank you God for allowing him to be part of our life.   

Flowers for Mommy!

 

I'm very thankful for the heart God has blessed our boys to have.   Jacob is always asking to get Mommy flowers.  This week he was able to get me flowers and was so tickled and made sure he told everyone he did.
 

 

On Sunday, his sunday school teacher told me about how he shared one thing he did that was good last week was buying his Mommy flowers because it made her happy, it made him happy.

AWE! I have the best little boys ever.

Boys and their toys!

 

Jacob and Owen love their cars.  

They will spend hours playing with them.

They line them up every where including going across the floor.

They are always proud of themselves after the line is accomplished. 

Most children beg for candy in the check out lines..not ours! 

Our boys beg for hot wheels.  

SOooo thank you Mr. Dublin for putting the Hot Wheels display at Kroger's right at the check out lines. 

We have a new rule in our family...only one car a month. 

The boys are very anious for October 1st as they have been eyeing their next purchase for a few weeks now. 

Our Family Rules

 

These are our family rules now displayed in our kitchen. 

Be Kind

Forgive

Say Please and Thank You

No whining, hitting, swearing

Eat your food

Say your prayers

Laugh

Love one another

Have patience

Giggle

Be thankful

Enjoy yourself

Be honest

Work Hard!

Carter eats...messy baby!

Enjoying Mac N Cheese

or 

an ice cream sandwich 

It doesn't matter what it is...he's a messy eater.  

Jacob is growing....

It hard to believe how fast our first baby is growing. 

The picture on the left was taken at the end of January and the picture on the right was taken in August. 

Time flies. 

Green & Yellow!

As all little boys are...our boys love the color green and yellow...on their tractors that is. 

Dublin Field of Honor

On September 11th we took the boys to the Dublin Field of Honor.  It was so awe inspiring to see the 3000 flags displayed in remembrance of each person who lost their life on that awful day 10 years ago. 

Owen was so thrilled to see the big fire trucks and all the fireman.  He wanted to say hi to them so bad but kept getting too shy to.  So right before leaving he saw a police officer, that just happened to be the Chief of Police in Dublin.  Owen walked right up to him, not sure what to do so in his shy little way showed him his Pez candy and then said Hi.  It was adorable.  

Later that night we watched a tribute to the 9/11 victims.  Jacob watched and asked us questions.  It crazy to think about its been 10 years already.  I can still recall the day it happened and thankfully I'm still with the guy...the love of my life that I was with the day it all happened! 

Quote of the day....

Sometimes I wish life is like a DVR. 

Go back to stuff you would like to relive. 

Fast forward through all the bad stuff. 

Delete from memory the stuff you want to forget. 

Pause time for a little bit so you don't miss anything!

Memories

Last night we talked with Jacob about Uncle Bill now living with Jesus.  I worried about how to
explain this to him, how he would react and what he would feel.  He took it very well and Andrew and I
believe that he understands....maybe just a little confusion with death and returning like Jesus did after He arose on the 3rd day....but still I can't believe how I under estimated his understanding and maturity with the situation.  Our little guy is growing up too fast.  

Last night when talking with him we talked about memories and memories are what we have. He reminded us
of Uncle Bill and Aunt Monica coming to our house and bringing him and his brothers a lot of hot wheels tracks and how Uncle Bill helped make the track so the cars could race from higher distances than the floor. He giggled as he shared that Uncle Bill used pillows from our couch to make little ramps and to hold some of the track down. He also talked about fishing with his Uncle Bill and how much fun he and Owen had fishing with Uncle Bill at the fishing derby earlier this summer.

Owen with Uncle Bill 

Owen doesn't really understand, and at the age of 2 is hard to expect him to as well.  He knows who his Uncle Bill is as we were looking at pictures and he definitely loves his Uncle Bill and Aunt Monica very much.