a year in review throwback!

Hello?

hello there. wow. I can't believe I haven't posted in well over a year but I have good reason for all that. Disease reared its ugly head and then my laptop just went kaput. 

But, enough with the excuses.

To be honest, I don't know exactly how up to date I'll get on this blog; I don't even want to necessarily commit to a minimum right now. I just want to organically see how this goes.

When I started blogging regularly, it was to update friends and family from miles away. Now that we are back in town, one could say there is no more use for this blog. But I have to say I've been surprised how much I miss it.

I never realized years ago that all the banging on this keyboard was actually therapeutic as well as staying organized to document the lives of my children.

I miss it. Yes, there's Facebook, instagram, snap chat and texting but boy, there is something about being able to type out a post about what is going on in our lives, and just letting my fingers fly on the keyboard as my brain releases all the thoughts from the day.

It's beautiful to look back and see the journey that we've been on in the beautiful life. It IS a beautiful life. Sure, it's been hard at times. Sometimes I look back at pictures and either laugh or cry. Usually i'm laughing at the pictures of me and or the babies crying because it doesn't take 1/2 a second to see a picture from times past of nursing, diaper changes, short naps and long nights to flash back to that moment and hear the cries, smell the smells and laugh at how long it's been since i had washed my hair. I then cry at the pictures of my and the babies laughing because boy has it been sweet. My family. I just look at them and can't believe that God gave me these precious babies. F.O.U.R. of them. 4. I always wanted to be a mother. but four times over. I'm realizing more and more each day what a blessing and responsibility that is. 

So, the last time I said, "I'm back" I only flashed on once. 

Here is us today.

Well, not TODAY.

But here is an updated picture of my family. Aren't we a beautiful bunch? I sure think so.

Times have changed, people have moved, been added and nevertheless, we are family. 

So beautiful.

Wow. The first thing I think when I see this picture is how TIRED we all look. But the next thing I think about this picture is the beautiful showing of grace in this picture.

It goes fast. We've been going through old photos in the evenings and all I think is, "it's gone by so fast". It has. It hasn't. It doesn't take me long to remember the days I was just staring at the clock. The coutnless diaper changes and getting spit up on so many times you are just used to spit up on all your clothes. 

It reminds me everyday to hug my children, to really hug their little necks, to look them in the eyes when I tell them good-bye for their school days and to always say, "I love you". I am l-o-v-i-n-g this stage. I know I always said I loved every stage. Because really, it is always fun and rewarding to see your children grow and develop and master new things but wow. This stage is beautiful. The talks with Henry about loving Jesus and how we show that to others, the funny jokes Porter tells me just because he likes my laugh, the sheer silliness of Wells and how he's become our families' class clown. The way we all treat Ruby like a little delicate flower but in realities she is the fiercest child we have. All their personalities have bloomed and their hearts are so kind and understanding.

I'm so proud of my family. You know that quote that says something along the lines of…"I'm proud of the woman I've become because I know how hard I worked to get here?" That. That's exactly it. We've all grown, and matured and learned hard lessons and been stretched and laughed till our sides hurt. When you really stop and think. When you really pause and reflect. My oh my, Jesus you make beautiful things.