Happy 4th!

Well here I sit on the night of the 4th.  It feels weird to not be doing anything special on the 4th, but we celebrated yesterday.  Our town had fireworks last night.  So we did the whole firework thing last night.

We met up with a bunch of people from our church and had a primo spot with a big field and no crowds!  The kids ran free with all their friends, and the adults talked.  Ok, the women talked, the guys played football, basketball, and frisbee.

 It was all fun until the fireworks started.  Caleb and Haleigh turned and ran for us as fast as they could. I think they enjoyed them once they were in our laps ears covered.  This was the first year Micah didn't have to be near us to watch them.  They were pretty good fireworks for the little town of Wake Forest!

the only pic I got of my kids dressed up...yes they are watching tv.  Hey they were sitting still!

some of the kids eating their popsicles - Micah is hiding in the back and C and H are MIA.  Can I just get a pic of my kids!!

Attempt at family pic #1

Attempt #2...at least Ed and I look good!

Today we made sure we cooked out, swam in the pool, and wore our red, white, and blue.  So we are still patriotic.  In fact, Ed is currently being very patriotic wearing his "Proud to be an American" tee and watching The Patriot.  He's so American.

10 years ago

I've had so much fun sorting through our old pictures today.  I realized however my wedding album and all the proofs are at Ed's parents house.  Sad.  But I had my scrapbook and some random pics laying around so this will have to do!  

Note...this is pre-digital era.  Am I really that old?  Sometimes I just want to squeeze my butt back in my dress, rent a tux for Ed, and go get a whole new batch of pictures.  To be honest, we don't like our pictures very much and its kind of a touchy subject.  But in the spirit of celebration, I will push those thoughts out of my mind and cherish the fact that at least I have these!

Martin Day 3,650

(and yes I used the calculator for that one!)

3,650 days ago I became a Martin.  I married the man I never thought I would find.

Our wedding day couldn't have gone more perfect in our eyes.  It was a beautiful day, all my favorite people were there, we ate, we danced, we ate more, and danced more.  Then we finished it off with a trip to Maui.  I often think back to that week, and it really was one of the happiest times in my life.

Truthfully though, its the time in between then and now that just messes me up to even think about it.  How could I be so blessed?  It's almost painful to think of how sweetly the Lord has showered us with His grace and mercy.  I do not deserve this.  But in celebrating our 10 years together, its only appropriate to give thanks for that which I had absolute no control over.  In no particular order...

- three beautiful healthy children

- a strong healthy marriage

- a husband I still find attractive

- godly grandparents for my children

- sweet ministry friendships from our seminary days

- many many students that still have my heart after 6 years of ministry

- the chance to go on many mission trips

- a front row seat in watching my husband do what God has gifted and called him to do

- three children who love each other

- the joy that fills our house

- a great teaching job for 3 years

- an incredible church in Wake Forest

- a chance to experience true community at our church in Richmond

- many sweet friendships that we developed in Richmond

- the fact that the Lord loves me enough not to leave me the way that I am

- adult friendships with my siblings

- incredible "in-laws"

-smooth and "easy" pregnancies

- laughter

- memorable getaways

- family vacations

- the Lord's provision

I probably forgot a ton of things.  But I am just so amazed at all that has happen in the last ten years.

I love my husband more than the day I married him.  I am so excited I get to spend the next ten with him...and the next ten...and the next ten!

Here's to ten more Edward!  I love you!

The not-so-fun parent

We went to a birthday party yesterday and came home with a kit to make slime.

Yeah, we're not doing that was my first thought.

How awful is that?!

I am admittedly a type A person.  I don't like to get dirty.  I don't like science. 

Fortunately, my husband came to the rescue.  After dinner he made the slime with the boys.  I cleaned the kitchen.

My firstborn who is very much like me in that he is not a creative type.  He is matter of fact.  To the point.  He wants to know bottom line.  So his first comment - Thats's cool.  What do you do with it?

I've ruined him. 

10 minutes later my two boys were in messy heaven.  They had so much fun.  And this mommy was proved wrong.  It actually was sort of cool and not so messy.

The best thing is that you can store the slime in the fridge for several weeks.  So they can play with it again and again! 

So I realized sometimes the messy things are worth it and fun! 

An Unexpected Beach Trip

One of the couples in our church planting residency invited us to go to the beach with them this weekend.  And since we knew we wouldn't have our typical family beach trip this year, we were glad to have a few days at Topsail.

We could not have asked for better weather!  It was perfect!  No clouds, a perfect low 80s, and clear blue water.  The only other thing I would've wanted was a chair to sit in and relax!  But that just doesn't happen when you have 5 kids to watch and play with.

playing in the "pool" we dug

this makes it look like they dug it...they did not.  just ask my back muscles.

a key ingredient to a good beach day...lots of snacks!

this guy was wiped

lunch

the older boys took a little kayak trip in the sound

We love this family, and those of you who are keeping up with us in our newsletters, this is the Kohouts.  They have become such dear friends to us.  It's as if we've known them for years!  We had a chance this weekend to talk about a lot as far as the church planting thing goes, and a chance to pray together and really seek the Lord in this.  We are so desperate for the Lord to act, and to lead us in this journey.  This is not our doing but his.  He is building a people.  We are just his chosen instruments.

Now its time to prepare for Runner's Camp.  We are all so excited for this week!  Micah even slept in his camp shirt and shorts for tomorrow!

It's been a while...

Hi there.  It's been a long time.  

We've been absent from the blogging world, and I've missed it.  

There was a point I wasn't sure if I would come back.  But here I am.  I decided it was worth it and worth my time.  

Where have we been?  Well, working on life.  

Our move to Raleigh has changed a lot of things for us.  A lot of adjustments came with it.  So I've just been trying to figure out life for these past few months and it was nice not to have "blog" on my to do list anymore.

But I have found I've missed it.  I've missed the community.  I've missed the reflection for me to think about my day or what the kids have done.  I know family members have missed pictures of the kids.  And maybe just maybe my readers have missed us.

So here we are...A little update on the crew!

Haleigh - 2.5 years old, She is an absolute delight to be around.  She loves to play dress up and wear a tutu and walk around in heels.  She comments on my earrings everyday so we may be piercing her ears soon.  She is a little mommy to her two babies - pink baby and purple baby.  And every other baby, real or fake, she plays mommy to...even if their real mommy is present and accounted for.  And she may or may not be known to boss around those mommys and tell them what to do with their babies.  Because clearly she knows what she is talking about!  Where does she get that bossiness from???

Caleb - just turned 4, Caleb has changed the most since our move.  He has matured in so many ways.  He eats most anything now which is a nice change from the extremely picky eater he was.  His temper tantrums are few and far between.  He has completely mastered potty training...whew!  So he is growing and maturing into the sweetest little boy.  He has learned how to ride a bike and loves it.  He has a fascination with letters and coloring.  He is repeatedly showing us his tender heart towards others, always thinking of their needs before his own.  And his little personality is full of expression, emotion, and good humor.  He still is the one who makes us laugh...all the time!

Micah - 6.5 years old, He is growing into an intelligent little boy.  He has finished Kindergarten and as his teacher, I had the joy of watching him learn.  He has learned addition and subtraction this year, as well as reading.  He catches on pretty quickly and is determined to work hard till he masters it.  He has taken quite a liking to Dr. Seuss books because he can read them!  He also is continuing to grow and develop in his athleticism.  We always knew he was gifted in sports, but we are constantly amazed at his love for sports and his crazy ability.  He played baseball this year and LOVED it.  His best game was a triple (which could've been a home run - the ball wasn't even in the infield yet and they stopped him at third), double, and a great play at second base.  His heart to honor God in all he does is inspiring.  He really seeks to do well at all he does which can be good and bad.

Ed - I have fallen in love with this man all over again in the past months.  We have been through some hard spots this year, but God has been so gracious to us in that.  We have come out more in love and a better understanding of our roles in marriage.  He is working with our church's runner camp this summer which is in just a few weeks.  He has preached at our church about church planting and is teaching Life Change this summer.  I love to sit back and watch the Lord use him in mighty ways.  It is an honor to be his wife.  We are still in the Church Planting Residency at our church and have been so encouraged by it.  We love all the families that are in it as well and have really developed some lifelong relationships through this.  Ed is meeting a lot with the guys and the elders at our church and praying his brains out to seek where and with whom the Lord may lead us to plant with.

Katie - I have finished my current role as homeschool teacher!  What a treasure the last two years have been for me and Micah.  But we feel the Lord directing our family in a different way next year.  So I will work as a Preschool teacher two days a week and take Caleb and Haleigh with me.  I am really looking forward to this new phase for us although I will miss Micah like crazy.  

Sorry no pictures this time, but I promise them next time!

A family affair

We love the ncaa tournament around here.  We fill out our brackets.  We watch most of the games, even if our team isn't in the tourney.  We all love it.

Since Micah was a baby we have filled out a bracket for him.  Each year it is neat to see how he understands it more and more.  Haleigh and Caleb have brackets too.

So today is a fun day for us.  I took Micah on a date to get some cokes, fries, and watch the games.  He was in heaven!  And as I cook dinner, they are updating brackets from the day.

Its moments like these that I will treasure forever!