Sunday, January 2, 2011
2010 has come and GONE!
This season of our lives has brought many sweet memories, and we give thanks to our Lord for His unfailing goodness. Jonathan & Ryan had a difficult year farming with a combine that kept breaking, too much heat, too many bugs, poor rice prices, etc. BUT God has provided for our every need and probably too many our wants. Farming is a way of living that constantly keeps us reminded of God's sovereignty and providence!
We have spent another year living on the farm and in the home that Jonathan's Grandfather gave us. There are so many wonderful things that we get to experience as we live in the wide open beauty of God's creation. Ian, who is now 3 1/2, loves the fact that his daddy works on a tractor (sometimes in the front yard), that we have barn owls, that horses roam near by, that on clear nights the heaven's come alive, and above all he absolutely loves to play in the fresh plowed dirt! Ian is quickly developing the fine art of being able to sit on tractors for hours at a time. I must say I am pleased at this not only because it allows me some free time with only two children, but because I think it helps him see that there is a time to "be still and know that I am God". Jonathan uses their time together to teach him about farming but also to plant seeds in his little heart that will hopefully someday produce fruit! Ian enjoys watching Deigo and many other cartoons that we have to limit him to. He has a sweetness about him that I pray God protects, but I must say he is quite firery when his sister becomes too opinionated.
Jada Kathryn loves the farm as well but for many other reasons. She loves the fact that her Uncle David lives right down the road, and he comes to visit fairly often with ice cream bars, rides on the four wheeler, horse rides, and lots of hugs and kisses. And he is only allowed to call her "honey" which she adores! Jada really enjoys summer time when she can run half-clothed through a sprinkler in the front yard...OK, well no clothes if she thinks she can get away with it! Jada is very aware of her adoption, and she is often full of deep questions. A few months ago, while we were saying her bedtime prayers, she asked me if Mirna carried her in her tommie. I explained to her that Mirna only took care of her until we were allowed to bring her home, and that we were never told the name of the lady that carried her in her tommie. Her reply was one of great depth. She simply said, "Mom, Can we call her Grace". So for some time now we have been praying for a lady that we call "Grace". Jada spends a lot of her time coloring, looking at books, and talking! For a four year old she has a pretty impressive vocabulary, and I pray God uses this gift of gab for His glory some day.
Then there's sweet little 19 month old Eli. As the baby child he takes his role seriously. He spends his time following Jada and Ian around watching their every move, and he has just recently begun to mock Ian with every step. Words are coming more easily now, a few weeks ago he repeated back to me "I love you", and of course he melted my heart. I will have to say that he melts his daddy's art as well though. When Jonathan goes to leave for work Eli will try to put on his shoes and all the time saying "Me too" "Me too"! While Ian has a sweetness, Eli has a gentle, loving spirit that draws you to him. Eli likes to play with cars and tractors and he has already spent several hours on the tractor with his daddy. As spring time draws closer I think he will follow in Ian's footsteps and begin longing for long days at work with his daddy.
Jonathan has been busy this past year working on renovations to our home, and I must say I have been very impressed! He and his brother Ryan must have gotten their Papa's carpenter abilities. The have taken walls down past the studs and rebuilt rooms, laid tile, sheet rocked walls and ceilings, put in recessed lighting, and the list goes on! It has been such a blessing not only financially but also relationally as I have watched my husband of now 10 years make a home for his family! Jonathan spent the past few weeks entertaining friends and family with duck hunts on the farm, and he took Ian on his first deer hunt (they've killed ducks, but no deer).
I still work three days a week as a "pharmacy tech/accounts person" at Coker Hampton. I love my bosses, and they have blessed me in so many ways. God has provided this job so that our health insurance is taken care of and I am still allowed to be at home the other four days. I treasure my days at home with my children, and I try to invest every moment that I can into training them in the ways of the Lord. I pray God helps me do it better in the months and years ahead. I have always ran as a hobby, but this past year I decided to use my hobby to raise money for causes that I thought were important (like Easter Seals). I ran my first of what I hope to be many more 1/2 marathons. Jonathan has joyfully taken care of all three of the kids when I leave early on Saturday mornings to go run my 5k/10k's. Running in races has also opened up the opportunity for new relationships with other ladies that run. Some are Believers and some aren't, but having something in common to talk about helps build bridges that normally I wouldn't have. My prayer is that God uses my hobby for His glory, and when it's time to move on to something else- that I will without hesitation.
Now that we can access our blog I hope to do better in posting things that are going on in our family, and in posting the many ways that God is teaching our family and me personally as a wife, mom, and child of the King. I look forward to 2011 and I'll begin this year with a prayer from Scripture, "Two things I ask of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God (Proverbs 30: 7-9)."
We have spent another year living on the farm and in the home that Jonathan's Grandfather gave us. There are so many wonderful things that we get to experience as we live in the wide open beauty of God's creation. Ian, who is now 3 1/2, loves the fact that his daddy works on a tractor (sometimes in the front yard), that we have barn owls, that horses roam near by, that on clear nights the heaven's come alive, and above all he absolutely loves to play in the fresh plowed dirt! Ian is quickly developing the fine art of being able to sit on tractors for hours at a time. I must say I am pleased at this not only because it allows me some free time with only two children, but because I think it helps him see that there is a time to "be still and know that I am God". Jonathan uses their time together to teach him about farming but also to plant seeds in his little heart that will hopefully someday produce fruit! Ian enjoys watching Deigo and many other cartoons that we have to limit him to. He has a sweetness about him that I pray God protects, but I must say he is quite firery when his sister becomes too opinionated.
Jada Kathryn loves the farm as well but for many other reasons. She loves the fact that her Uncle David lives right down the road, and he comes to visit fairly often with ice cream bars, rides on the four wheeler, horse rides, and lots of hugs and kisses. And he is only allowed to call her "honey" which she adores! Jada really enjoys summer time when she can run half-clothed through a sprinkler in the front yard...OK, well no clothes if she thinks she can get away with it! Jada is very aware of her adoption, and she is often full of deep questions. A few months ago, while we were saying her bedtime prayers, she asked me if Mirna carried her in her tommie. I explained to her that Mirna only took care of her until we were allowed to bring her home, and that we were never told the name of the lady that carried her in her tommie. Her reply was one of great depth. She simply said, "Mom, Can we call her Grace". So for some time now we have been praying for a lady that we call "Grace". Jada spends a lot of her time coloring, looking at books, and talking! For a four year old she has a pretty impressive vocabulary, and I pray God uses this gift of gab for His glory some day.
Then there's sweet little 19 month old Eli. As the baby child he takes his role seriously. He spends his time following Jada and Ian around watching their every move, and he has just recently begun to mock Ian with every step. Words are coming more easily now, a few weeks ago he repeated back to me "I love you", and of course he melted my heart. I will have to say that he melts his daddy's art as well though. When Jonathan goes to leave for work Eli will try to put on his shoes and all the time saying "Me too" "Me too"! While Ian has a sweetness, Eli has a gentle, loving spirit that draws you to him. Eli likes to play with cars and tractors and he has already spent several hours on the tractor with his daddy. As spring time draws closer I think he will follow in Ian's footsteps and begin longing for long days at work with his daddy.
Jonathan has been busy this past year working on renovations to our home, and I must say I have been very impressed! He and his brother Ryan must have gotten their Papa's carpenter abilities. The have taken walls down past the studs and rebuilt rooms, laid tile, sheet rocked walls and ceilings, put in recessed lighting, and the list goes on! It has been such a blessing not only financially but also relationally as I have watched my husband of now 10 years make a home for his family! Jonathan spent the past few weeks entertaining friends and family with duck hunts on the farm, and he took Ian on his first deer hunt (they've killed ducks, but no deer).
I still work three days a week as a "pharmacy tech/accounts person" at Coker Hampton. I love my bosses, and they have blessed me in so many ways. God has provided this job so that our health insurance is taken care of and I am still allowed to be at home the other four days. I treasure my days at home with my children, and I try to invest every moment that I can into training them in the ways of the Lord. I pray God helps me do it better in the months and years ahead. I have always ran as a hobby, but this past year I decided to use my hobby to raise money for causes that I thought were important (like Easter Seals). I ran my first of what I hope to be many more 1/2 marathons. Jonathan has joyfully taken care of all three of the kids when I leave early on Saturday mornings to go run my 5k/10k's. Running in races has also opened up the opportunity for new relationships with other ladies that run. Some are Believers and some aren't, but having something in common to talk about helps build bridges that normally I wouldn't have. My prayer is that God uses my hobby for His glory, and when it's time to move on to something else- that I will without hesitation.
Now that we can access our blog I hope to do better in posting things that are going on in our family, and in posting the many ways that God is teaching our family and me personally as a wife, mom, and child of the King. I look forward to 2011 and I'll begin this year with a prayer from Scripture, "Two things I ask of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God (Proverbs 30: 7-9)."
Monday, December 6, 2010
Up & Going Again!
After 1 1/2 years we have finally gotten enough time to stop and change passwords and sign in again to our account! Hopefully we'll be up and bloggin soon!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A Season for Everything!
Wow, it's already March...the buffalo nates are out, flowers are blooming, the smell of fresh plowed soil is in the air, and Easter (Resurrection Day) is on its way. So much has happened in the past few months. We celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jada became an official citizen of the state, we celebrated Great Grandma Winston turning 90, and we said goodbye to a sweet and loving mom and Grandma of 59 years. There is a season for everything! "He has made everything appropriate in its time....I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor- it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him." (Ecclesiastes 3:11-14). There is such hope in the fact that the God of creation is in control, and this same God-the God of my Salvation, is involved in every aspect of my life. Praise God!!!!
On a much lighter note the kids are into everything...they get into dresser drawers (top ones) and sit while playing with clothes, they get into the bathtub (with their clothes on), they pull anything and everything off of kitchen cabinets, and the list goes on. Ian is now talking (despite his sisters constant "noise")and he loves ice cream with dad. Jada is in "big girl panies" and she likes to play dress up. They are such a joy!
We are in the process of remodeling and moving into Grandpa Web's house. We should be in sometime in the next month...hopefully before the new Hillman makes his entrance. Eli's due date is May 3, but most likely I'll be induced at the end of April since Ian came so quickly. I really don't want to go into labor 1 1/2 hours away from my doctor. We'll see what happens.
We look forward to God's plans for us in the future -future "seasons", and we pray our simple lives will bring Him glory.We thank God for His goodness, His comfort, and His promise to never leave us or forsake us!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Over the past 2 months Jada has turned two, and we can officially say that she has entered the terrible two's- although she's been there for a few months already:) Ian has learned to find those things that bring Jada joy, present them to her, and then run in the opposite direction laughing has hard as he can. It's really quite fun to watch.
We had an opportunity to go to the Memphis Zoo and both kids loved the animals. Ian referred to the lions and tigers as "cats"- they're his favorite! Jada liked the pandas and the giraffes.
We had our annual Fall Festival on the 31st of October. Jada was a ballerina and Ian wore a Arkansas Razorback jersey. Their favorite thing was jumping on the air-up toys. They did this with their cousin Sawyer for 2 hours straight!
We look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas! It's so fun teaching them about the holidays and why we celebrate. We pray God's joy and peace are real to you as we approach these special days. Even though some have sad memories during these days, there is such comfort in being reminded that our God is still in control!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Simple Joys!
While it's been a very busy month, it was one filled with many joys! Ian got his first hair cut, Jada started dance (ballet & tap), Jada is potty-training, Brian & Janet have been able to spend time with their neice and nephew (and us!), a new cousin -Gentry Madison, fresh corn, okra, & tomatoes, and many more simple joys- Thanks God! Hope you enjoy these pics!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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