It wasn't a mistake....

I have had something on my heart lately. I guess more like someone. I have been studying Mary during this Christmas season, and the birth of Christ. I have always thought of the story of Jesus birth as a wonderfully romantic story with babies and love and mushy stuff. As I study more, I have come to find it wasn't, not even a little. It seems we have made it out to be that Mary became pregnant and they all celebrated. Mary and Joseph rode for miles and miles on a very comfortable donkey to a warm comfy stable where she had baby Jesus and placed in him the manger. It was.. except, Mary became pregnant and wasn't married. Not good. She rode on a donkey very pregnant for miles and miles... and miles. Not so good. And then, she gave birth... ya know without and epidural and all! In a cold stable... with cows and sheep. Very not good. It wasn't soft and fuzzy. It was long, and hard and cold.



Mary was about 12 years old when she was told by an Angel that she would become pregnant and give birth to a son.

Luke 1 31-33

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.

Seriously? Can you even imagine what that must have been like? Can you imagine being that young, and an angel comes to you and tells you are pregnant and would soon deliver the Christ Child? Um... really? Not only was she young, she was to be married, and she had never been with a man. We all know how babies are made, and... well... you have to be with a man.

Luke 1:34-38

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Yeah, that is totally what I would have said too, and then I would have said "HUH?" "I am going to do what? I am a young girl, I am going to be married! I will disgrace my family, and Joseph's family! I could be stoned to death or exiled! Do you know what this do to me!? I am busy, I don't have time or money to have a baby! Have you looked around? Why don't you bring the Son of God to us through somebody else please!?

But, not Mary. She just simply said... okay. "May it be to me as you have said."

What an amazing response from a amazing, humble woman of faith.

I want to have Mary's faith. I want to have the kind that when pushed by God , I simply say, "okay." There are so many times in our lives when we say, "not now God, there is too much going on." Maybe later when things are easier. I think you might have the wrong person for this job. Ask someone wiser and stronger. I can't do this, I really can't"

God knew exactly who he wanted to give birth to Jesus. He hand picked her, just like he hand picks us. Everyday we are chosen to do things, will we be like Mary? What is it that God is asking you to do? It could be calling you to change, or to move, or to act.

I am so thankful for Mary and her amazing example of faith, even when it seems impossible.

Merry Christmas!!

Katie

Bubbles!

My boys had a great time blowing bubbles outside today. Jacob is the bubble blower and Caleb catches them. They are just so cute!

Caleb says, "come here little fella!"

Shelby got in on some of the action too!

It has been so beautiful here the past few days,

so we are trying to take advantage of this weather.

Pumpkin Carving!

A few pictures from Halloween. I know, I am a little behind. What can I say? We just been having too much fun!

Preschool!

Today Jacob started his first day of preschool! A few tears were shed, and yes they were mostly mine. He did great and can't wait to go back tomorrow.

I seriously can't believe that he is in preschool. It was just yesterday he was my little guy, watching Madison go off to her first day of school. He was so little. Is it really his turn already? Am I really old enough to have two kids in school? (That is what this is really all about! :))

He is my handsome little man, and I couldn't be more excited for him to start this journey. He is going to be great!

I love you buddy!!

Second Grade!

Madison started her first day of second grade today! Seriously? I can't believe she is in second grade already. Isn't she just the cutest thing you have ever seen!? She just jumped on the bus, waved goodbye out the window and off she went!

She is getting so grown up.

We love you Bubba Jo, and we are so proud of you!

Sum Sum Summer Time....

It has been a busy July at our house. We have taken a few mini vacations, played a lot of softball and experienced our first camping trip with a camper. We also celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. (Post to come on that later....)

Summer has come and gone already. It seems so fast this year. I guess when the kids are in school it goes faster.

This is Jacob waiting for a play at his t-ball game.

He LOVED it! He all but sleeps with his gear.

All three kiddos, and our dog Shelby on a hike

during our camping trip.

Jeff's first ever s'more! He can't eat your everyday chocolate bar. I found a very dark chocolate bar without milk in it and he loved it.

It wasn't his last :)

It was Caleb's first too!

Cute kids.....

All three asleep in the hotel....so sweet when they are sleeping!

Madison's swing!

Summer has been fun, but we are all ready for school to start. Bring on the schedule's we are ready!!

Baby Deanna

*Update again ****
Visit coloradokrafts.blogspot.com for a complete story from Jami. Great pictures!


Deanna had a wonderful day yesterday. She is off the vent, just on room temp air through a cannula, off her blood pressure meds, and off pain meds. Jami was able to hold her for the first time yesterday! They also put a cast on her leg to start the correction process of her club foot.
She has a long road ahead of her, but is improving everyday.
Please keep praying for this precious baby girl and her family!

Katie

Pray

*Update*
Deanna is in the NICU and stable. The doc's still don't know for sure what all is wrong with her, and lots of tests are still being run. Jami is doing well physically and being the most amazing mother that baby could ever ask for.
God is good.
Please pray for this little one, pray for complete healing

Katie


Please pray for my dear friend Jami whose baby was born this morning and is very sick. I don't know the details, but I know she needs prayer. The baby's name is Deanna.

Three months

It has been three months.

Three really long months. Three months of thinking about her every minute, every hour. Three months of wishing she were here to call, to laugh with, to run errands with, to see her babies.

I miss her so much.

I think about these last two years and how fast it all happened. At the time, it seemed like time dragged on. Appointment after appointment, hospital stay after hospital stay. She suffered for so long, and she was so tired. She fought so hard. She promised she would. She was amazing.

God had bigger plans for her though. Plans I may not understand right now, but it isn't for me to understand or not. His plans are greater. She is at peace. Finally not in any pain. How could I ask for more for her?

I still miss her though. I still wish she were here with me today.

I go through my day thinking how much she left here with me. A thought in my mind, an action carried out, a rainy day and the smell that we are left with afterward. Enjoying each day to the fullest, hugging my kids, playing silly games that she made up with them. When it thunders really hard, my kids think Grandma is bowling with Jesus. I love thunder.

I miss her.

I am trying to have a new outlook on life. Each day is new, and the only one we have. My God is big and mighty and there isn't anything he can't do. He grants me peace beyond understanding and I am very thankful for that. I certainly couldn't have it on my own.

She was an amazing woman, and she gave it all she had. So now, I give it all I have. It is really hard to do sometimes, but I keep trying. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other. Loving my life and the memories of my amazing mother I hold so dear.

My Son

I got a call yesterday afternoon that I have been waiting on for months. A spot finally opened up at the preschool I wanted Jacob to attend! The teacher called excited to tell me the news, as she was also Madison's teacher and has known Jacob since he as little.

I was so excited to get the call, I was having trouble deciding what to do with my boy if preschool wasn't an option. He is such a smart little man, and he loves to play with other kids. However, he is a bit shy, and a classroom environment is something new to him. I think it is just what he needs. He is so excited for school. He cried so many times last year as Madison got on the bus. He really wanted to go too.

I was watching the kids run through the sprinkler this morning and thinking how much he has grown up. He is the middle child, and has every trait that comes with being the middle child. We are in the thick of serious training with him right now, and it tends to be discouraging and disheartening. It is days like today though, when I sit back and watch him running and playing in the water that I realize just how far he has come, how sweet he is, how gentle he is with his siblings, and how very very much I love him.

It is bittersweet signing him up for preschool. I can't believe he is old enough. I also can't believe I will have two kids in school next year. Time is going by so fast. I still so vividly remember the day he was born and my mom was crying as the doctors proclaimed "it's a boy!" She wiped the tears from my eyes and said "it's a boy honey, we have a son!" That is a memory, I will never, ever forget. She was so proud.....

So for today I am enjoying my kids during the summer when I have them all day, here with me, all to myself. Some days are longer than others, but He grants me strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

New Chapter

Well I finally decided to start my own blog, for me and about my life. I previously had a blog I set up for my mom as she batteled pancreatic cancer. I felt then like I had something to say, and now I feel like I just want to document our life. It feels very different blogging this time. I don't know if anyone will read it, but that's okay.

I am not a writer...at all. In fact I am not very good at it. I tend to write how I am thinking and that can be confusing... even for me. So if you are reading this, don't expect to be blown away by my increadible writing style.





So, on to the blogging.....



This weekend I spent with my possie (my friends) at a cabin in the mountains. It was so pretty and so peaceful. We talked, and shopped and laughed until we couldn't stop. It was wonderful. I then raced home Sunday to spend the day with my dad and my wonderful husband. We ate burgers at the park and played barefoot kickball with the entire famiily. It was a blast!



It is a busy week ahead, with lots of summer fun. It is already going by so quickly! My baby will be in second grade! Can you believe that? Ugh.. sooo fast.



It is finally nice outside. It has been soo rainy. It feels like summer now and I am thankful for it. Is so different having kids is school all year. It makes you appriciate the summers and the fun times you have with your kids. I am loving the time we have together.



I am beginning to be random, so I will quit for today. I am sure there will be more randomness to post another time!