well, i sat down this morning all ready to upload our thanksgiving pics and tell you all about our break. however, it seems that i have reached my max of photos in my "photo plan." if you're confused... so am i. i have no clue what this means or what i need to do. but i have a feeling that it will take some time to figure out. sorry to delay the postings.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Samaritan's Purse gave us something too
today was one of those out of body experience days. for the last month our kiddos have been at each other. they have been negatively interpreting comments from one another and from lance and i. we have been trying to draw them to one another and help them restore trust with one another, but nothing has worked. add on top of that, the fact that riley has been in one of his most hideous stages to date and we have war happening in the sisco home. although we have been repeating the phrases, "we're on the same team" and "they are not your enemy" nothing seemed to help.
flash forward a few weeks...
Friday night we filled our Samaritan boxes. before leaving the house, each child got to pick five things that they wanted to put in their boxes. [i don't know about you, but my kiddos get overwhelmed in the store if they don't have any direction] we had some serious conversation before heading in about how this shopping was not about us or what we wanted for Christmas. we also discussed (because of our running record) that we would be helping each other find the things on one anothers' lists. no one person's list was more important... we were a team of people wanting to be a blessing. a prayer was said and off they went! we grabbed the things on their lists and then got more things that mommy and daddy deemed necessary.
i was so proud of how well they did. they found soo much joy in finding things that could bring a smile to another kiddo. they graciously helped each other find the things they wanted to give and they were patient when waiting to check out. when we returned home, they couldn't wait to fill those boxes and write letters to those kids.
flash forward to today...
their was peace in our home this morning. no one complained about the clothes they were going to wear. i had kids offering to help with breakfast and clean up. their was no fighting on the way to church. there were no tears when dropping kids off at their classes. everyone obeyed when it was time to walk back to the van. we ate out and everyone stayed seated and used manners. we ACTUALLY enjoyed a meal out!!! (can't remember when that happened last). upon returning home, there was quiet playing of Legos and, again, kids helping one another. i really could go on and on- but i won't. all this to say, there was a HUGE turn around in our kids and their hearts.
i don't believe the parenting changed at all... we are just as flawed now as we were before. however, in taking an evening to put other's needs before ourselves i think our kids got their eyes off of themselves.
Acts 20:35 says, "In everything i did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." and Paul said in Philippians 2:1-4 "If therefore there is any encouragement
in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy
complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in
spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty
conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as
more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own
personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
There is no doubt that this small act rebooted our family. i'm hoping to remember this and make a real effort to continue leading our kiddos hearts and minds to care for others in small and big ways. Please join us in that mission and let us know what your family does to take your eyes off yourselves. we would love some fresh ideas and may God receive the honor for all of it!
Friday, November 16, 2012
battling the blues
riley is our most serious kid. i'm sure this side of him will be a wonderful attribute at some point, but for now... momma is trying to not get too down about mr. negative. i thought i would flip through some pics of him the past few days and be reminded of what a blessing he is... even on the "you're stupid, mommy" days (i know, gasp! my kid is a sinner).
my days with this 3 year old will be gone before i know it and i'll miss that little serious face!
lance got a sweet moment with him last week when riley wanted to hold daddy's hand all the way home. that may seem like no big deal to most, but this does not happen often.
today i pulled out the balloons and we tried to soak up some time together between the very sad moments.
he loved it
it was short lived joy, but i got a few smiles
oh, my sweet, sweet boy.... this is my prayer for you:
may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. - Romans 15:13
Monday, November 5, 2012
birthday festevities
we woke allie up with bday balloons and singing. you had to know that at some point the pics of that experience could no longer be posted. this year was it for our girl... she loved it, but she was SLEEPY!
we took this pic in front of olive garden (her choice for bday dinner). do we look exhausted or what? it was a long, sickly week around here!!
she did have fun opening her gifts at the restaurant. The lord was faithful and i happened to find many things at the ccc sale this year that were on our kids' wish lists. the first gift was a book set.
the second gift was several new outfits for her build a bear that she got from being in a wedding (thanks maddie!!)
the third gift was a set of fairies. And the best part was that she got her favorite dish- shrimp fettuccine alfredo.
we had her party on sunday.
she wanted a tinker bell party so we made some no sew fairy skirts.
refreshment for the fairies.
cake: chocolate with purple butter cream.
cookie decorating station all set and ready to go. the lights were daddy's idea. super sweet touch!
we had four colors of icing and six types of sprinkles to decorate the butterfly cookies
in full swing
just as the girls were finishing up, the door bell rang and a note was found. it was from tinker bell.
it led them on a scavenger hunt to find three things. the hunt ended with a pinata in the front yard. no pics because two adults were needed for the pinata event.
then it was inside for cake and lemonade.
cute girls having fun
then it was back outside for another activity.
the girls got to put pixie dust on each other
the aftermath...
playing "tink says"
griffin got into the cake when no one was looking... oops
the boys got to decorate some cookies too because they did such a good job being sweet to the girls and letting allie have some fun.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
SEVEN... yikes!
oh! my! word!
seven years ago today i had no idea what it looked like to be a parent. i had no clue what life change was going to hit me over the head. i didn't realize that i would not sleep through the night again or that changing my clothes would be an hourly event. allie has taught me so much. i haven't done it all right, but we've done it together. i'm grateful for the LORD'S hand in our relationship!
i could stare in these eyes all day! she is so big... so mature... so sweet... so strong... such a leader... such a a great big sis.... such a compassionate daughter... such a learner... such a beautiful daughter of the true KING!
we have our days of growing and learning, but overall - when I look at this pic - she's come so far. what a jewel of a daughter we have. i'm BLESSED to be allie's mommy!
trick or treat, smell my feet
mid afternoon photo shoot with the pumpkin... his idea!
i could probably include upwards of six photos.
later that evening...
darth vader
yoda
obi wan kenobi
and our little butterfly
allie with her friend anna
we missed our tyler friends for our halloween traditions, but we made new memories with lots of friends here this year!
