4-0

 

                                                      

That's right!  It happened!  I turned 40 :)  I never understood the big deal.  Everyone has their own fears. It seems many are scared of turning 40. I've heard of many peoples turmoil and fears of turning 40.  Can't say I really felt anything.  Definitely wasn't sad.  Age doesn't define me.  It's just a number, and I feel quite spectacular.  Steve was snowmobiling with friends for the weekend.  He called on Monday, my birthday, and said "so how are you, do you feel different?"  I said, "yes I'm different, I turned into a super model over night!"  DUH, no I'm not different.  But even though I'm the same person, every birthday is a reason to celebrate, and celebrate we did on Friday night. 

The piggy represents a pig roast (took me a little while to figure that out :)  And the cake was just plain perfection!

 All the friends are perfection as well, or as I like to say, "AMAZING!"  Some friends like to tease me because I like that word, but it just fits.  I have great friends, and we had a great time. 

It's been fun to think about all what has been accomplished in 40 years.  I would dare say I take my roles as daughter, grand daughter and sister more seriously than I did 30 years ago.  I realize how much people mean to me.  I've been married, to the same guy hehe, over half my life.  He's a pretty cool guy, and I can't wait to keep him around for another 40 years.  I think of how much better and more fun marriage has gotten with every year, we just keep getting better with age baby!  Then the kids, oh the kids, they just kept coming, and I LOVED IT!!!  But this stage is fun too.  It brings new challenges to parenting but a whole new concept of how much I LOVE these girls.  They are, wait for it, AMAZING!!!!!   And there are friends........we've had some of the same friends for over 20 years.  And I love them like family.  They know me inside and out.   And we have newer friends, that God put in our lives, because He knew we needed each other as well.  And I'm in awe, by God's plan for my life. 

Some one asked what I would change about the last 40 years.  Our experiences define and shape us.  If something in our past is different, our life would be as well.  I learned from my parents, you plant the seed in your children's hearts, you keep them accountable, you love unconditionally, and you pray daily.  You surround them with friends that have the same values, and other parents that would do anything for them. So that when we stumble, we can help each other back up.  I am thankful for my parents and the solid upbringing I was given.  And I pray I can do the same for my kids.  I'm excited to see the what God has for the next 40 years.  However, there will be more parties before then.  There is ALWAYS reason to celebrate!!!

 

We'll take it!

       
Steve got me up yesterday with "the look."  The "oh no someone's sick" look.  It happened to be Megan.  She had a fever and bad headache.  As I was in the living room talking to her, there was a banging on the wall, (Leah's room is on the other side).  I thought, wow isn't she lazy, but I walk in there and low and behold, she's sick too.  That's super!  I had to go to work, because calling in the week of Christmas is not nice.  So I left the 3 younger kids in charge of the 2 older ones.  I said, "do what ever they say."  I came home to a very upset Brooke.  Not about fighting or illness, but about the fact we were not going to our Christmas party that night.  Oh boy!  I get it!  I get the disappointment, but we weren't missing a party, we were rescheduling.  It's all good.  But to her it was not, and she was quite verbal about it.  I told her I had a story for her, but she informed me she didn't want to hear it.  So an hour or so later, she asked about my story.  I told her about a baby that got really sick on Christmas eve.  And the baby's 4 sisters missed many parties, time with friends, family, parents and normalcy for a long long time.  But it wasn't the babies fault, it was just God's plan.  She listened and then said, "are you telling stories about me again?"  Yes, yes I am!  I told her how they sacrificed a lot, and now it's her turn.  I haven't heard complain since. 


As Steve was moping around today, yes he's sick now too, I said, "6 years ago we were in ICU."  He said, "yeah I thought of that.  We'll take this."  I look back at 6 years ago and think, "wow, I knew nothing, and it was a GOOD thing."  But then I figure in 6 more years I'll look back and think the same thing.  God has a spectacular way of shielding us, and giving us just what we need to know.  I always picture Him taking our hands and walking us through.  And that goes for everyday.  I think sometimes everyday is harder than crisis mode.  In crisis mode, you have little choice, but told hold onto faith, family and friends.  In everyday mode, you have time to think through things and over analyze.  We are our own worst enemies at times.  I'm not saying I need a crisis mode anytime soon or ever, but I am saying I've learned a lot.  And am so happy to be sitting here 6 years later with our ladies, opening gifts.  Even if they are in pj's with fever's.  We'll take it!   Thank you Jesus!!!

Ultimate gift

We had Christmas Sunday night with my grandparents, Uncle, Aunt and cousin. We laugh because my extended family is about half the size of Steve's immediate family :)  Steve and I show up with half the party!  My grandparents give us money each year.  The last 2 years I have not spent the girls money on gifts.  We take them away for a weekend get away.  They all agreed that's what they wanted again.   After we ate, my grandma had all the kids pick a number and she gave them each a bag.  They all opened huge, wonderfully crafted, colorful, handmade quilts.  If you don't sew or quilt it's hard to imagine the money, time, patience and love that goes into each and every quilt.
Each piece is so intricately pieced together. The girls were SUPER excited!  What a gift!! (as were the adults!  We each got one too!!!)  I would suggest every year we make each other gifts, but I realize I'm not even a smidge as talented as my grandma and I'd be embarrassed :)  She has a gift, and we are so blessed that she shares it with us. 


           


      


 

Let's talk bathrooms!

Yup, you read right, bathrooms!  You see, the conversation comes up often around here.  Not by us, per say, but by others.  We have 5 girls, as most of you know. As well as myself and Steve.  We have 1 1/2 bathroom.  2 toilets and 1 shower.  Very adequate in our eyes.  Not so much in other's eyes.  We have a system.  We can run those kids right through the shower.  We can pick locks and turn on the dishwasher when people take to long of showers  hehe (all in good fun.)  It's all good.  We share, we argue, we have good talks, sometimes we are silent.  The strangest thing, for me, when all the kids went to school, was taking a shower in silence.  No one asking me questions or to do things while I'm in the shower.  I missed it.  You see, I like our chaos.  I like our, "quality" time.  I'm ok with having kids lined up in the bathroom doing their hair.  We know not to spray hairspray when Leah's putting her contacts in and don't flush the toilet when someone is in the shower. 
Seems strange to so many.  I'm sure if we knew any different, this would be craziness.  But it's not.  It's our normal.  Steve doesn't even complain.  He says, "it's fine."  He even joins in with the hair brushing and accessorizing.  I married an amazing man, that it seems, many people don't understand. :)




With all that being said, the amazing man got back into the fields on Saturday.  I was sooooo excited for him.  Until he came home, and realized how hard the combining was, with all the mud and corn stalks laying down.  But today we got home from church, and he said, "I needed that." Time in God's house, meditating on His word.  Reset so he can start again tomorrow.  Playing in the mud, getting the crops off.  God is good.  Even if it's not our way, His way is better.   Happy harvest my friends!


        

SNOW!?!?!?!

For real?!?!?!?   I'm praying these weathermen are SEVERELY messed up! 
I LOVE fall!  I love the harvest, the field, the combine, I even try not to complain about all the dirt, corn and soybeans that collect in my van.  It's just all good.   This fall has not been, all good.  This weather is RIDICULOUS!!!  The farmers often complain about things during harvest.  After all these years, I've figured out encouraging words, humor and food help everything.  I tell my sweet husband, "the crops come off eventually, no worries, have a piece of cake."   However I'm now starting to have the same anxiety as him.  I watch the weather in anticipation.  My mother in law texted me today and said, "oh no, the weather looks bad." I talked to Steve today.  We talked weather (of course) and he said, "I don't think it'll snow til midnight."  I told him, "DO NOT LEAVE the seat of the combine until you HAVE to!"  I then realized, what happened to the supportive, laid back wife I've been.  It's crunch time!
You see, we planned a fun vacation with friends in December.  Who combines in December right?  Plane tickets bought, we are ready to go.  I LOVE the time away with my Stevie!  But if this weather doesn't change, I will be the 3rd wheel with our friends.  I'm not sure they can handle me!!!!


With all that being said, there is actually nothing we can do.  We know God has a plan. We know His plan is best.  I know I'm being somewhat selfish.  So, whatever happens, happens, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE weathermen be wrong!

Labs

Brooke had labs done last week.  Her normal immune studies.  I remember when I would be so anxious with anticipation of what the results would be.  That was a few years back. I don't really give them a second thought now.  We got emailed that Brooke's T and B cells (the cells that fight off infection) reacted "normal" when tested against virus's.  That's a change.  For the better.  Her over all immune system is still compromised, but her, lack of, immune system is reacting better.  Our nurse said, our MD and PA are VERY happy about this.  So with that, we are happy too. 

I've struggled with my lack of emotion of this.  I feel nothing.  No excitement, no happy dance, no jazz hands.  I'm glad about it.  I'm not upset.  Someone was telling me they are rejoicing and so excited.  I felt like, "what's wrong with me?"  But tonight I got a little seat time in the combine and mentioned it to Steve.  He seemed to have the same reaction as me.  "Ok, sounds good."  I realized, this changes nothing for us.  Brooke is still Brooke.  Cute, amazing, spunky, a sister, a daughter, a grand daughter.  We live with her everyday.  We don't see an immune system, we see a beautiful girl God has given to us to raise in His image.  When we drive, or fly or go away, we no longer worry about germs or illness's.  We just take our kids in tow, and raise our family.  God has removed that fear and told us, "I got this."  We trust Him. He's walked with us through this whole journey and He won't leave us now.  So we check her labs again in April.  We'll see how much better she gets in 6 more months.  Her nickname as always been "Eeyore" (as well as one of her big sisters) because she's slow with E V E R Y T H I N G!  Even figuring out her immune system.  Slow and steady wins the race :)  You go Brookie!  Take all the time you need.  God's got this! 

Parenting 101, or 102, or 103?

Everyday the kids come home from school.  I say, "how was your day?  Anything fun happen?"  Sometimes I get elaborate stories about something, sometimes I get grunts, sometimes they just walk by.  They eat, then I ask, "how much homework do you have?"  The twins always say, "NONE!" and then we go through what everyone else has.  This week Sunday, I asked if everyone's homework was done.  One daughter said very casually, "I have a book to read but I'm so far behind I just quit.  I read most of it.  I have a quiz tomorrow."  Ok.  Usually once she gets behind/gets sick of reading, we get the book online and she listens/follows along.  So I asked her why we didn't do that.  She said, "I don't really like the book, so I don't want to read it or listen to it."  All good, common sense answers.  Steve and I just let it go.  We said, we'll see how the quiz goes.  We can't force something at 9pm on Sunday night. 
I've been asking how the quiz went.  Today she says, "I got a C."  I'm like, "hey that's not too bad, for not reading the book, kudos to you!"  She said, "yeah last time I read the book and I got a C.  He said this quiz was harder."  I did add, "maybe next time we should try to read the book."

Wow are kids different and unique and I LOVE THEM ALL!!  This parenting is fun (most of the time) and a wild ride.  The crazy thing is we all parent so different, but most of us, with the same goal.  To have a child that LOVES the Lord, and that's heart is filled with Him. 

I had conferences this week and I called Steve before going into one of them.  I said, "I think I'm prepared."  But he knew, chances were, I'd be crying by the time I got back to the car.  He said, "Don't sweat this!  She's a good kid.  She's passionate about life.  She's going to be ok."  We'll she has the BEST teacher.  Because she said the same thing. It was the best conference and she really has pretty decent grades. Go figure!

I look at all these kids and how they learn so different.  I kinda feel bad they are stuck with us as parents, but I figure we'll all just muttle through and we're going to be alright.  They all definitely have a passion for life!!  To God be the Glory!!!