Happy Mother's Day

Our amazing crop of sweet peas! Carolina and Lizzy were my helpers as I was picking them. The girls each gave me a bouquet of different flowers from the yard today...roses, ranuculus, sweet peas, and iris.



To my own mom on this Mother's Day!
I wish I could be with you today. I miss you a ton and so would love to have you living by us. Thank you so much for all you did for me growing up, all your sacrifices, for showing me how to work hard, for your patience, and most of all for loving me unconditionally! You are the best mom and I appreciate you more than ever now that I have five little ones to mother...thank you for loving them so much too.
I only wish I could share with you some of the flowers from our yard. Instead you'll have to go buy a beautiful topiary! I love you MOM.
Love,
Ayme

Verse for a Lifetime

"Let the beauty be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of
a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's eyes."
1 Peter 3:4

Two Year Olds

Life is constant motion with two busy two year olds. The twins are growing up too fast. I am really trying to cherish each moment with them as they are the last babies.

I was talking to my wonderful mom yesterday (as I do at least once a day) about the babies and how busy they are. My exhaustion and overwhelmed feelings are directly related to these two little bundles of energy and personality I am sure. I was telling my mom that I miss the baby stage and that I am pretty convinced that I am not one of those that will ever feel "done" having babies. I simply love babies and have never found the newborn time hard. I love nursing them, strapping them to me, smelling them, and the security of knowing where they are all the time! My mom was disagreeing with me saying "oh but honey two is the best, they can talk to you, I love how the twins are right now, they are at a precious age!" I have pondered her words ever since our conversation.

I appreciate my mom for a million reasons, but one thing I especially appreciate is her advice and wonderful wisdom relating to my kids. Her suggestions always make me think, most I agree with and put into action. I can get pretty worked up about things with the kids...fears, lack of confidence as a mother, discipline issues, attitudes, feelings of being overwhelmed, and did I mention worrying??? She will often remind me that God made them the way they are and that he has a very special plan for them (no matter how much their mother worries) and He will care form them.

And so I have made a list of the things I enjoy about my precious two year olds
1. Their enthusiasm for the littlest things..."Who wants a bath?" is met with a chorus of "I do", "I do".
2. Their personality begins to really show, you know that personality that God gave just them!
3. They begin to really talk and understand ALL that goes on around them.
4. They don't forget anything! If you put something into the routine, they are sure to insist on it the next day.
5. They keep me active every moment they are awake.
6. They begin to LOVE to be read aloud too.
7. They are full of love and hugs for their mommy, daddy, sisters, but especially each other!

The Simplest Way to Slow Down

A picture of our family at a dear friends wedding, all the children were part of the celebration!

As I begin to write I realize it has been over a month since I have posted anything.
Our life has been anything but simple. I have felt like I am being stretched and pulled in every direction, barely staying afloat. I absolutely hate living like this because as you know nothing seems to get done well, its just maintaining, getting what needs to be done that day done and then looking to the next pressing issue. Don't get me wrong, there has been a lot of fun things happening, but the pace at which I can do things just isn't what it used to be.

So here is the easiest way to instantly slow life down...have all but one person in your family of 7 get really really sick! Exactly one week ago Miss Mary came into our room sobbing, grabbing her head, and with a fever of 102 degrees. I tried not to think of all the things that this could be and instead worked on giving her motrin and tucked her into bed beside me. Eric was out of town, not scheduled to return until Friday evening. By the next afternoon Katherine too had a high fever and both were throwing up, and by evening I felt terrible. Eric caught a flight home(his ability to get home that evening was a total act of God and a whole other story in itself). So as it stands right now Thomas has been the only one fortunate enough not to get this horrible flu. I don't remember ever feeling so miserable!

Staying home for nearly a week has been a challenge, we've missed out on many "amazing outings", lots of music practicing, routine, socializing with friends, and getting anything accomplished! Somehow life has been put more into perspective and so much of what we have "missed" out on doesn't seem to really matter. Yes, it would have been really fun to have 2 great families over for vespers Friday evening and to take my kids on a wonderful field trip with friends, but completely stopping life also afforded lots of time to snuggle up together, to watch some really good movies like Sound of Music, stay in our pj's all day, and to eat lots of toast and applesauce. We also were able to experience the kindness of several friends through yummy meals of soup brought to our home, reminding us how important it is to reach out to those in need.

I was overwhelmed with love and appreciation for my husband who was such an amazing person through all of this. He didn't feel great during this time, yet he got up with the kids at night, administered lots of medicine, read to the kids, took the wellies on walks and bicycle rides, fed the kids meal after meal and cleaned up the kitchen over and over and even managed to get a few trees planted in the yard with the help of the ever faithful and helpful little Thomas!

Clinging to Him

Today has been one of those days...I knew as I got out of bed that it was going to be a tough day. I knew I was starting my day already behind and I knew I needed Him to see me through. I read II Corinthians 4:8,16-18 before it was completely light outside, after I had exercised. I prayed that I could apply these verses throughout my day and shared with Eric what I had read. He opened up his Bible and read Matthew 11:28-30 out loud to me and prayed with me before he rushed off to work, many stresses of his own ahead in his day at work. I started my day close to God and had a feeling of peace as I faced my crew of energetic blessings.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

Fast forward exactly two minutes! I am overwhelmed, Katherine and Mary are at each other, all are hungry, house is a disaster from the busy weekend, twins are into a bag of chips from the pantry, the phone is ringing, Lizzy is nowhere and it is time for breakfast, "Lord, I just can't do this, I can't keep up, everyone needs me, please help me now!" Against my better judgement I give one of the twins a glass plate which crashes to the floor, Mary is sent to her room, I open The Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos and begin to read to the girls about Adam and Eve being sent out of the Garden of Eden...about how hard they had to work from that point on just to eat and live...

Yes, this life here on earth is tough and everyone has something hard to deal with. I know as I sit down to write at the end of this horrific, overwhelming day that Satan knows how to bring me down. I was defeated today, I felt like running away from my life and given the option I probably would have at least taken a couple of quiet hours to myself to make a to do list, collect my thoughts, breath, have an ice blended mocha! Since time away was not possible I slogged through the morning feeling more and more sorry for myself and quickly forgetting the amazing assurance and power that I had received in my quiet time with my Lord. Life is good, with so many things to be thankful for.

Thinking back through my day I can see the many times He was right there beside me giving me patience, energy, the right words offered to a wee one, and opportunities to minister to my children's hearts. I cried a lot today and was reminded by my wonderfully thoughtful husband that I was yoked to my Savior. Satan did get the better of me several times today, but as I sit here in peacefulness I know I was not crushed by him for I was clinging to God and I found rest for my soul in Him.

Things I am Thankful for Today...
*A gentle God that is patient with me.

*My five amazing and tender-hearted children that are full of life, healthy and passionate about life.

*My husband, that he loves me no matter what and believes in me even when I completely doubt myself.

*That we decided to go for number four and were doubly blessed with Thomas and Caroline(enjoyed slowing down enough today to video tape them talking...pricesless!)

*An aggressive quarral between Lizzy and Mary that opened up the perfect opportunity to really have a heart to heart with the two of them about habits that have formed and behavior that needs changing, the time ending with all of us in tears and me crying out to God for help in mothering and mentoring these precious hearts.

*Witnessing Lizzy forgiving Mary and telling her that "Old Spotty" had been in her heart and she just needed to tell him right then to Get Out! (Old Spotty is the name for Satan in the book Thee Hannah by Margarite de Angeli)

*Katherine who is such a cheerful helper. She stepped right in today and entertained the babies, comforted her sisters and managed to have time to get her math done and the book she was reading finished too. Thank you Katherine, you are amazing!

So...here is to a fresh start tomorrow, but still clinging to Him or rather yoked to Him.

Be still and know that I am God

Psalms 46
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Creating

The girls have been creating all sorts of things as of late. Katherine took a sewing class this summer and made a quilt. She had never sewn before and to tell you the truth I was skeptical that she would complete the quilt and enjoy the process. Boy was I wrong! She didn't quite finish it, but she does LOVE sewing. She now has a very old black singer sewing machine in her bedroom (a kind gift from Nanna's best friend, at least until she has a use for it).

I took it to the sewing shop and had it oiled, cleaned etc and she and I read the manual to learn how to thread it. I do not have the best memories of sewing from when I took home economics in 10th grade and have said "I will never sew". Never, say never! I actually think I could get into this!!! It is amazing how your children expand your horizons and keep you learning new things. Thank you Katherine for having the desire to learn to knit and now to sew too. She is a great knitter and I am LOVING learning to knit along side her. She has all sorts of ideas for sewing projects...aprons for her sisters, quilts for her dolls. Time, if we only had time to keep up with all her ideas!


The girls also made rag dolls this past week. What a fun and super easy project. I had bought a kit when we visited Sutter's Fort last month and once again wasn't too sure about a project like that. I figured we'd get to it sometime this year. Kids sure keep you going though...we are studying Westward Expansion, California History, Gold Rush etc. and they were thrilled to start the book Patty Reed's Doll by which tells the story of the Donner Party. They made their rag dolls one afternoon as I read out loud to them. The girls were able to see Patty Reed's doll which is on display at Sutter's Fort. The story is told through the eyes of her doll. An amazing book that we all enjoyed immensely.

So you must meet Molly (Lizzy's doll) and Cassie (Katherine's doll). They have spent countless hours making beds, bonnets, and dresses for them. Some made by hand, some using the sewing machine. I sewed on eyes, nose, and mouth for each. The kit made it easy, but now I have the pattern and we plan on helping Mary make one this week!