Dylan's Art

All my kids are amazing in many ways, truly. I have been astonished a lot recently by the artwork Dylan has been putting out. He dedicates himself to it. I bought him a sketch book yesterday to try to preserve some of the best ones. Now, Lauren is doing what she can to follow in his footsteps. Here is a sample. This is Santa Clause. I think you'll know who's is who's!

A lot of the things they do are really imaginative and it is fun to see on paper how their little minds work!

Changes

Change happens, even when you aren't noticing, and it isn't usually a big deal. Especially when you aren't noticing. It is the big changes, and big uncertainties, that are harder to deal with. Ben started a new job yesterday. Hooray, right? Maybe. He HATES change of any kind, and since he has been home for over a year, this is big change for him. It starts with a really low pay rate, with a potential to move up after 90 days. It isn't anything he wants to do, but is something he is willing and able to do. I am just grateful to have the opportunity for a steady income again! I think it is stressing Ben out a little, though. He is quiet, and not sleeping well. I wish there were a quick fix, but he'll just have to get used to it! Other big changes, well, this baby is coming whether I like it or not. I don't like labor, that's for sure. I do like babies, but there is nothing that shakes up a household like a newborn. Also, timing may be everything. I am certain that having a baby within days before Christmas will change the traditions we have, maybe forever. It definitely changed how Ben and I celebrate our anniversary when Lauren made her grand entrance on our 10th!



Change is good, too. I am so grateful for the wonderful people my kids are becoming. A few weeks ago at church I had two people come up to me to tell me wonderful things about two of my kids. I am really proud of the people they are choosing to become. It is not easy to figure things out when you're a kid, but they are constantly trying to do better than they did before, what more can you ask? So, by the way, is my husband. He amazes me. I don't know anyone who wants to be a better person more than he does. He gets down on himself a lot and doesn't give himself the credit he deserves for all his hard work. I, on the other hand, spend too much time content with where I am at. Or maybe, I am too caught up in my life as it is to make the efforts at this particular point in time. I always want to learn new things and try new things, but there is a time for everything and it just isn't now.

In all of this, there is hope. I was thinking, on Sunday, (I won't make this a habit) that hope is always there. It seems like this year has been one of unending uncertainties, but I always have hope that things will get better. When I feel like I am drowning, I always find a lifeline right there next to me and sometimes wonder if I would have seen it sooner if I hadn't spent so much time focusing on the amount of water I was stuck in. In this month of giving thanks, I feel true gratitude for the blessings in my life. I am daily awed by the tender mercies poured out on me. According to goverrnment standards, I live at poverty level. According to the Lord's, I am richly blessed.

Lauren

Some of my favorite things about Lauren right now?

She tells me several times a day to see how big her feet are. Her goal is to have feet as big as daddy! I seriously hope not.

She uses the word merrily in place of barely or nearly, ie. "I was spinning so much I merrily fell down!"

She wants to have discussions. She said the other day as we were driving in the car, "Mom, lets talk about dying." When we finished that short discussion, I was wondering if I had covered her questions, and why she wanted to talk about dying all of a sudden. She releived my anxiety by immediately following up with, "Now lets talk about burps."

She wants to be big and smal all at once. She wants to play Regan's math multiplication games, although she doesn't yet know all her numbers. SHe also wants me to hold and rock her sometimes. I love the cuddles!

She is so creative. She makes up games and stories, and is easily delighted by the simplest things.

She says she is three now, but on her next birthday she'll be five. Apparently four is overrated.

She is soooo excited to have a baby at our house. There isn't a day that goes by when she doesn't make plans for when HER baby is born. She kisses my belly and talks to the baby all the time. I guess she is meant to be a big sister!

Right now, I am hoping she never grows up!