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When Daddy’s gone

Published by Aubrey

Brian’s travels have increased this past year with his new job responsibilities. They are usually quick trips but there have been frequent comings and goings. With Brian being out of the house more it has made me more thankful that I have a husband to do life with, an adult to talk with at the end of the day, someone to help me not go crazy at the end of the day and a father that adores our children. Doing it alone is hard. And it’s already hard with the two of us! I know him traveling frequently is a season and I love what he is getting to do. But in the process of him traveling more I am getting used to him being gone and I have noticed some things that are different when Daddy is gone…

  • I stay up way too late watching TV or doing whatever, which makes the next point so much harder to accomplish!
  • My quiet time in the morning is EVEN more important. I need all the strength and peace I can get!
  • We eat more eggs, especially for dinner. Daddy’s not a big fan.
  • If I get a chance to get away without the kids, the first I do is run. Forget the errands I need to do, I NEED to run!
  • We are more busy, doing whatever, just being out of the house making time go faster.
  • Mason is WAY more aggressive with me and the girls because he doesn’t have Daddy to wrestle with. I try to play the part but it’s just not the same.
  • I often organize, rearrange and clean out things.
  • Mac-n-cheese and cereal for dinners are acceptable dinners.
  • Mason does become the “Man of the House”. He’s more protective of the girls and is a great helper to me.
  • Weekends are hard. I do better once the weeks starts.
  • I often have a sleeping partner in bed with me that I’m not quick to return to his own bed. He’s a great snuggler.
  • I get more random projects done at night.
  • The girls wake up more at night.
  • The bed doesn’t get made some mornings. Brian always done this for us.
  • We all get a little crazy!

    • silly lego bin

No matter how long or how short the trip we are ALWAYS anxiously awaiting Daddy’s return home! We function fine when he’s gone but way much better when we are a team of five and we have our leader.

Ministry update

Published by Aubrey

We are trying to make more ways for our supporters to be involved in what we are doing on a day to day basis. We want you to know you are a huge part of what we do everyday and we are so thankful for you. Updating our blog with more updates is one way to stay more connected with us so please continue to check our blog frequently. Right now Brian is in central California in San Luis Obispo. Here is a little snippet of what he is doing there and what is going on in Chico. Thank you for your partnership with us!

5 on Friday

Published by Aubrey

Yet another week has flown by. So fast.

1. Well we have our first of many I’m guessing black eyes. Little Miss Kaia is sportin’ a nice shiner and some scratches across her eye and nose. Her and her counterpart were on a scavenger hunt in their very messy not so clean closet looking for their shoes. Somehow they pulled a large bin full of clothes down from the top shelf and Kaia got clocked in the face. Poor thing looks pretty beat up. But she’s such a good sport about it and tough little cookie. The picture doesn’t do her injury justice, unfortunately it does look worse than what you see.

2. This week at church Mason made beautiful bracelets for his whole family. When I came to pick him up he was the last one in his class, sitting at the table with his teacher eagerly working on his bracelets. The teacher told me he had to make a bracelet for everyone in his family. He proudly gave me one and each of the girls theirs and then held on to one for daddy. I was a proud mama as well at my thoughtful little dude.

3. THE SUN CAME OUT! First time in over a week. We’ve been outside soaking it in even though it’s still chilly out. Just this week we’ve played soccer, baseball, catch, rode scooters and bikes and have been to the park. The sun and fresh air does amazing things for the body and soul, especially little people!

4. One of my favorite gifts for Christmas was a sewing machine from my grandparents. My sewing skills are waaaayy basic but I’m excited to learn and see what I can do with my new little machine. Brian will be out of town for a few days so I’m hoping my nights could be filled with making some wonderful masterpieces. Yea, right! Still I’m excited:)

5. Date night is in T-minus 90 minutes and I’m sitting here in my sweaty work out clothes, the kids are running around 1/2 naked and wanting to be fed. I’m looking forward to some quality time with my husband tonight. Now time to go!

Perspective

Published by Aubrey

A conversation I had with Mase the other day went like this.

M: Mom are you 32?
Me: Yes.
M: Then you’ll be be 33, 34, 35, 36 and then you’ll die.
Me: Really?
M: Yea, because you’ll be SO old!
Me: Thanks, Mase.

Yes, 36 in a child’s mind is SO old. Ancient.

One step closer to being big girls

Published by Aubrey

Yesterday the we took the girls to get their first haircuts. It was more like a trim to cut off the straggly baby hair. It’s quite possible that the trim is only noticeable to Brian and I. But none the less they had their first haircuts. Before I was a parent I didn’t understand why moms got emotional with their child’s first haircut. Really, it’s just hair? That is what I thought in my judgmental head. Then the day came for us to tame Mason’s thick head of hair. What really pushed us was when several people asked us what HER name was. Ok, guess it’s time to get the haircut! And there was me getting all emotional because my baby boy didn’t look like a baby anymore with his big boy haircut. Something similar happened yesterday as I watched my little girls change their looks just bit, closer to being big girls. Sigh. I know it’s bound to happen but it’s hard to let go of the little “babyness” they have left!

The girls acted just how we thought. Kaia is our little diva, girlie girl. She couldn’t wait to get in the chair. She sat very still, I think because she wanted her haircut to be just perfect. Theia asked a 1,000 questions and insisted her sissy went first. She needed more time to check out the situation and the lady with the scissors. Theia also sat very still but for different reasons than Kaia. She’s was very observant and skeptical of the whole situation. She held my hand the whole time for extra security. At the end both girls were very proud of their new “do’s”.

Here are some pics of our trip to the salon:

Having a snack while we wait for Mason to get his haircut. He’s pro, so we are taking notes.

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Yeah, I could get used to this.

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Ummm, Mom whatever you do don’t let go of my hand.

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Alright, we did it! Now you know what’s next?!?

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THE CANDY STORE!

Tonight…

Published by Aubrey


Tonight we have friends coming over.
They are bring us dessert.
And…
They are coming to look at our house as possible renters once we leave.
I’m excited for the possibility of people we know to be taking our place. I know they will love and appreciate it as much as we do. I am happy that they will have a great home and wonderful neighbors. But friends or not it doesn’t matter.
Tonight I am still sad. This is our home. But not for much longer.

Five on Friday (even though it’s Saturday)

Published by Aubrey

I had the best of intentions of getting this done yesterday but it just didn’t happen. But I’m still going to do it today. And I’m ok with that.

1. We are all finally adjusted to being back home. Normal sleep schedules have resumed. Nap times, rest times and alone times are being had. A break from a schedule is fun and needed at times but it’s always good to get back to normal routine. Around here we thrive on routine.

2. It’s been raining here, pretty much since we have been back. We are thankful for our rain coats and rain boots. We wear them everyday and we love them and I do think we (me and the kids) look pretty cute all dressed up in our rain gear.

3. Something was happening in our house while we gone. Crickets were breeding. Yes, you read right. Let me remind you that we have a lovable gecko named Sammy G that eats crickets as part of his diet. Occasionally one gets loose but we catch it and he quickly becomes a meal. Well we must not have caught one make that two and they were very busy while we were gone. We have caught at least 25 crickets in our house in the last week. Thankfully they don’t make any chirping noises and we have a very hungry gecko that gladly accepts our findings. Mason is fearless and has caught every single one. This makes me happy. Also, on the up side we haven’t had to make a trip to Petco to purchase crickets…because they are roaming around our house:)

4. I’m potentially, maybe, getting closer to thinking about potty training the girls. They are very interested in they whole ordeal and show other signs of readiness. I just don’t know if I’m ready to take this, what seems to be, monumental task on myself. Here is a pic of the girls sporting their big girl undies they got in their Christmas stockings. If cuteness had anything to do with success in potty training they would be done in 2 seconds!

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5. Right now I’m doing a Beth Moore study called Breaking Free with the womens bible study at our church. I’ve only heard amazing things about this study. I’m 3 weeks into it but so far it is living up to it’s reputation. I can see why people say it is life changing. I’m excited to see how God will use this study in my life.

Big news!…another chapter.

Published by Aubrey

If you read the previous post with our new email prayer letter you probably know what I’m talking about.

We are moving.

In about 4 months we will be moving across the country to Indianapolis. There is a wide range of emotions for us. I think we pretty much hit them all in one way or another.

There is much excitement for a change, new and different things, closer to family, the possibility to be first time home buyers and making a new life in Indy. There is sadness to leave a town we have embraced and grown to love, a ministry we have poured our hearts into, friends, our home, our neighborhood, the place we started our family. There is anxiety for the changes to come, the many unknowns, the logistics of moving a family of 5 across the country and making a new life in Indy. But above all else there is an almost unexplainable peace in knowing we are not alone, we are protected, we are being obedient to our calling, He has gone before us.

So do not fear for I am with you,

do not be dismayed for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10