Sunshine Amidst the Rain

A week of sun sand-whiched between weeks of raining.



So much to be thankful for. A home surrounded by colourful playgrounds. Two weeks ago we went to a different every day, except Tuesday for I had two extra 1.5 year olds. i'm brave, but not brave enough to venture out with 5 kids under 4...



To watch the kids run and play and laugh.



The trick is to not be too busy and to have the time to ENJOY being with them, to push them on swings and watch from the sidelines as they make new friends, to help them on the monkey bars.

Its a difficult balance. Last week I failed, my week was packed with too many "extras", meetings for Drew, meetings for myself a visit to do together. We sailed past eachother like ships at sea. This week I'm determined to slow things down. Drew and I, years ago already, made a decision that when the time came for our family to grow I would be a stay at home mom. We would rely on HIM to provide. Its a beautiful thing, and we have grown from it. Sacrifices are made to make this work. Fancy vacations are thing of the far future, budgeting and grocery shopping have become my speciality. We don't do much shopping and the kids are not dressed in the latest fashions. I dig through second hand stores and find treasures. Shopping in "real" stores has been forever ruined for me as I see price tags on childrens clothes, knowing that in 6 months I'll find the same outfits for a fraction of the price, discarded after a couple of wears. And it works for us.



I have a husband who leads and loves, children who (try my patience) and love being at home. So often I met blank stares when I'm out with the kids and asked what I do. I've been asked "you like that?", "are you crazy?", "three's a good number you shouldn't have more". I've also been encouraged, from older ladies who have done the same, they smile when Jacob is kicking and screaming between the meat and the produce. They pat my arm and say "i remember those days", and I feel a connection. These unsuspecting sources of encouragement are a blessing.

Drew has a birthday today. We will be married 6 years in August. I have celebrated 8 birthdays with him. All marriages have their struggle I believe, we are selfish people. With the LORD's help we work on this and work in building a Christian home. We make mistakes and blunder our way through.



I love this man. He supports me and loves me, I don't often feel taken for granted (only when I'm running on little sleep and hungry.....then he feeds me and all is good:)....its a blood sugar thing. Tonight we go out for dinner with the two of us, and we are planning a 4 day holiday in the fall. Our first time away from the kids since after Kaylin was born! And tonight at dinner we will have a chance to re-connect without being interrupted!