Growth and Fruit

Today as I was thinking about another week ending, I pulled out my calendar to start my to-do list for the upcoming week when the Lord kindly showed me fruit in my labors. I am freshly aware of my dependance on him and how I can do nothing without him.

This week Hannah has started eating more food. It's apparent that she is having a growth spurt. She wants to eat and sleep all the time. She loves Cheerios now, not as much as a homemade sugar cookie, but a close second. She is walking all over the house in her little walker. Her favorite place to go is down the hall, stopping at her picture on the wall and talking to it for a while before heading into the boys room. I think she likes the stripes on their walls. Then she gets stuck and can't turn around so she hangs out there for a little while.

Ethan is doing remarkably well catching on to potty training.

And lastly, my oldest child, Andrew, who can be likened to a turtle hiding in his shell had a breakthrough. He bravely walked right up to our librarian storyteller and handed him a Christmas present of homemade bread and said "Thank you" while looking at him in the face. He even carried on a conversation with him telling him all about the bread. This is significant because my 4 year old has been hiding behind me every Wednesday for the last year or so. I have had to sit with all the other children on the rug indian style pregnant, then with a newborn, and now with a 7 month old in my lap just so that Andrew would be able to see the storybook.

We have had a full week.

Monday, we were treated to dinner out at PF Chang's with Jasons' boss and other employees and their wives. We were the recipients of amazing gifts and great fellowship that night.

Wednesday, we took our family Christmas pictures with our favorite photographer, Shannon Stanfield. You can visit his website at shanstan.com.

Thursday night, we continued our family tradition of "Trim the Tree party." We all went shopping for it, let the boys pick it out, decorate it and enjoy a lights out night in the house. I'm all about making memories. Can you tell?

Friday night, we had our Care Group Christmas party.

Saturday morning, I wrapped christmas presents for a few hours at Toys R Us. Our church has been having these service outreaches to reach the community and invite them to visit us at our new location. That was a blast this morning. I haven't wrapped that many presents in one sitting since working at Parisian 10 years ago.
This afternoon, Jason loaded up on firewood for our long expected harsh winter that's been predicted and yes to the boys enjoyment, Jason built a large raging fire.

And tomorrow, we get to go back to our new church building, praising God for all that He has done and start another week.