Sufficient for my needs!

I love this time of year. I love the smell and feel of the air. I love the colors of the trees as they change and lose their leaves. I love that my Birthday falls just 2 days away from the first day of fall. But mostly I love the time that I take to reflect on the things that I have been so blessed with in my life.
I am asked over and over, “What do you want for your Birthday?”, and really, it’s hard for me to think about what I “want”. I think we can get so hung up on the things that we want, or that we don’t have, that we make it hard to see the blessing right in front of us. I have always been told that as long as I am doing what is right, I will be blessed sufficient for my needs. It isn’t that I will have sufficient for my wants, or sufficient for the things that are nice, or that I really like. It means that I will always have the things that I need.
When I think of needs, I think of the basics; food, clothing and shelter. As I reflect on my life, I can see that I have always had sufficient for my needs, and then some.
I have always had food to eat. I am pretty sure that everything I have consumed in my life time has not been my favorite, cooked just right or had a dessert to go with it, but I have always had food.
I have always had clothing. A lot of my clothes have many, many years of wear and hopefully many more years of wear still left in them. I don’t usually have the trendiest clothes, they usually have a hole or a stain some where, but for the most part I try to look decent and I have never had a time where I had nothing to wear. (Although I am pretty sure I have said that before.)
I have always had shelter. I love my little house. It provides protection from the elements, warmth in the winter and refuge from the summer heat. It is big enough for my whole family, and welcoming to family and friends. There are times that I wish I had something more “grand” to drive up to when I get home, or a larger kitchen for my kids to gather in, but that would not make my house any more safe, warm or secure to be in. What I have is truly sufficient for our needs.
I am so grateful for my home, my family and my amazing friends that help to give me perspective in my life. I think if I can just remember how blessed I am, I will always be happy. I think if we all really reflect on our lives we can see that we have the things we truly need and that all the extras are not always adding to our lives, but can in a way, actually be taking away from what will make us truly happy.
There is so much “stuff” in this world. I have a good friend that helps me remember that if I am spending all my time taking care of my “stuff”, than I won’t have any time to take care of the things that are really important to me, like my family!
I had a wonderful Birthday yesterday, filled with family and amazing friends that showered me with love and gifts. It is times like this that I can truly see how blessed I am. It is not the gifts that mean so much to me. That is just “stuff”. It is the time they take out of their lives to spend with me, the thoughts that they share and the love that is felt when we are together. Don’t get me wrong, the gifts are great, but to me, they are just extras. So if you ask what I want for my Birthday this year, it is you, because as far as things, I have sufficient for my needs.

Dear random person at Costco who asked, "How did something so big come out of something so little?",

First of all, that "big something" is my sweet, happy 9 month old baby and that "little something" is his mother!
Second of all, he was not that big when he was born, and I was not that little either.
Third, You really want to know how?, Well, he was cut out of me 3 weeks early because if I would have gone into labor, we would have both died and left a Dad and 4 sad boys to grieve the loss of their mother/wife and brother.
And Lastly, I want to thank you for noticing us and saying something, because that means we are here. That means my cute, chubby, happy baby boy is here for me to take care of and love. That means I am here to care for, nurture and love him and the rest of my beautiful family.
So to you, random lady at Costco, and to all those that comment on my "fat Baby", keep it coming.
With all my Love, Jamie

And then there was ONE!

The house is quiet. No TV, no fighting. Just the soft hum of the computer, oh and the load buzz of the refrigerator (that thing needs to be replaced, ugh!). All the boys are at school, including Michael! I just might be able to get somethings done around here!

Off to Preschool!

I just dropped Michael off to his first day of Preschool. He has been so excited ever since the big boys started last week. We went last week to check out his "new school", which is actually my friend Wendy Knights house. Michael asked to go downstairs. Apparently, everyone has toys downstairs, at least in his little 3 year old mind. Wendy said that there was a slide down there and that is all he has been thinking about. So when I dropped him off, he immediately wanted to go down and play on the slide. Miss Wendy told him that they were not going downstairs today and Michael began to cry. I told Wendy that he had been so excited to start school and go downstairs, and she told Michael that if everyone was good, they could go to the basement. He quickly cheered up and went off to play.
I hope we does well today. I really think that he needs something that is just his and I am hoping preschool will be it. Michael has been doing a lot better since school started for the big boys. The routine makes such a difference for everyone!
On our way, he is so excited!

Michael and Miss Wendy

Mom and her BIG boy!

Time to say goodbye. Just a little nervous I think.

Back to School - The most wonderful time of the year!

I can't believe what a difference being back into a routine has made in this last week. The big boys started school August 23 and the day seemed so long. We get up at 7am, get dressed, have breakfast and prayer and they are all out the door between 7:45 and 7:50. Then its just me and the two younger boys until they return between 2:30 and 3pm. Michael is so fun to be with when he can just be himself. He is doing better with Jacob and doing better with obeying. He will clean up when he is asked, eats better and is even potty trained! (for the most part)

Connor started 8th grade this year. He has grown up so much in the last year. He is less than an inch shorter than me now! I have been preparing a photo album on the computer and it is amazing to see how mature he has become. Don't get me wrong, he is still 13, but Connor is so much fun and really has a great personality. He is pretty darn handsome too, if I do say so myself!

Nathan is in 5th Grade. He was nervous in the beginning when he saw who his teacher was, but everyday I ask how school was and he says, "Great!" He loves his teacher and class. He has a few friends in there, but not a lot, so hopefully that will keep him focused and not get too goofy. Nate has a super fun, magnetic personality. He is clever, and has a quick wit about him. Nathan helped pick out some of his clothes this year and I have been very impressed with his style. He always looks so put together and he's not too bad to look at either! ;)

Matthew started 2nd grade with a brand new teacher to the school. Her name is Mrs. Staples, and when Nathan heard that, he said, "That was easy". She even has an easy button on her desk, ha ha! Matt has a ton of good friends in his class this year including Josh and Gavin from the neighborhood. Matthew is still my sweet little guy. He has lots of energy and and makes friends easy. His dimple will melt your heart, and if that doesn't do it, just look into those beautiful hazel eyes and he will charm you no doubt!
I love my boys and I love to have them around, but it is so great to have them back in school and back on a schedule. I never thought I would be one of "those moms" that could hardly wait for school to start, but this year, I was that mom. I am sure I will be wishing it was summer in a few months, but until then, I am going to get my house clean and take a few midday, gilt-free naps!
We went to pick up the boys from school but by the time we left (Michael wanted to ride his scooter, bad idea), they were already well on their way back.

After having ice cream and talking about their day (first day of school tradition) Nathan got right to work on his homework assignment!

Michael was so happy to see Connor come home too! We did not try to go meet him at the bus stop.

Matthew's new school clothes did not arrive until after the first day, so he got to wear his new clothes the second day of school. I thought Nathan was looking pretty slick too.