hi there. my, the stretches between blogs seems to keep growing. life is flying by. yesterday was my beloved's birthday. it was a warm, loving, grace filled day celebrating my jake. good friends and family showed lots of love and it meant a lot to him. I can't believe we are in the second half of September already. I don't mind it too much because all the best times of year are coming up. to look back though, we had quite the summer. almost all of our family on both sides made a huge trip to come visit us and meet the newbie, bailey. and our dear friends the Eisenzimmers came all the way from Portland, too. that is love. to be honest, life right after bailey gray was born was rough. painful. sleepless. stressful. hard. and if you came to visit us in the midst of that, you BLESSED us. more than you will ever know. from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
this fall is different for us. my big, almost 4 year old, finley, is in preschool twice a week. can I get an amen?!? ha! it truly is good for ALL of us :) he is loving it. his teacher says he is doing great and I get some much needed one on one time with audrey. it is such a treasure taking only 2 kids to the grocery store! and I have time to just sit on the living room floor while Audrey draws or reads to me with no interruptions. till bailey wakes up that is, but it is sweet time.
our church started the first ever womens morning/bible study group and I LOVE it. it's so wonderful and refreshing getting to know the ladies of ridge church.
little bailey is our little song bird. she literally sings. very early in the morning most days and in the car. I will get a video of it, because it is so funny. jake started calling her song bird and it just might stick. she had a rough first few months, but for the most part now, she is a delight! we love our bails.
being in the season of discipline (hopefully Godly, consistent, grace filled discipline) of two babes under 4 is exhausting. completely and utterly exhausting. and i need Him.
like i said, i can't believe it's mid September. and that my newborn is over 4 months old. and that finley is almost 4. and that Audrey is in the "big girl" class at church now. my babies and me are all learning and growing. a lot of days are long and difficult. mothering is so.so.so.hard. and amazing. God has been very gracious through His people and just in Himself this year. all i know is, Lord willing, tomorrow i will get up, early, and drink my iced coffee and somehow get all the kids fed and dressed and get ourselves in the car to get to women's group. hopefully tomorrow, i will think of the Lord and be present, intentional, awake. often i fumble through my days with 3 young kids and just try to survive till bedtime. i know these days of young babies will pass so fast and i'm trying to soak it up. i will also soak up spit up, sticky syrup spotted tables, spilled morning coffee all over the table, floor, and iphone (it survived, thankfully) and poop. lots of poop. and it couldn't be a better life. i just don't want it to pass me by.
love to you.
mer
