On the farm update

working on the fence, post holes have been dug and posts are in place... next is putting up the field fencing

Henry.. little does he know that soon he will have SO much room to roam!

Mckquack and Webby

Just like Jesus

Alright so I'll admit. There has been many a time where i have felt like Jesus has no idea what it's like to be a mom. In my selfishness i would think about how he never had to deal with the daily in and out of constantly be needed and wanted and just drained by children. Looking back now i just have to laugh, because Oh boy was i wrong. Just because Jesus was not a "mom" does not mean he has no idea what i am going though... he knows EXACTLY what i am going though. I've been reading a book called "Real Moms... Real Jesus." by Jill Savage and it has been an eye opener and given me a new perspective. Jesus definitely understands me and has been there. From never getting a break, people always wanting answers and wanting to be healed and fed and followed... the list goes on and on.

I am his child... who constantly comes to him, wanting to be loved and understood. I don't understand where he is bringing me and what he has planned. I whine and cry and complain. I come to him with everything, and he is patient with me. I need discipline and guidance. I need the constant reminder to do the things that need to be done. I need affirmation. I am his child.

There is something special that happens to your relationship with Christ when you have children. Not only do you understand the depth of God sacrificing his only son at a deeper level... but also the depth of love that Jesus has for us. The sacrifice it is for Him to be the gap between us and God. That depth of love is beyond comprehension, and I most certainly am not deserving. I am a rebellious needy child, yet he still wraps me up in his arms every time and whispers acceptance and love to me.

It is only though the strength of the Lord that i can be any percent of a good parent to my children. It is only through the example of Christs love for me that i can love on my children. There is a song by philips craig and dean that really explains my heart on how i feel about my kids. It is a daddy singing from his perspective, but i can relate as well :)

I Want To Be Just Like You - Phillips, Craig & Dean (Lifeline)

He climbs in my lap for a goodnight hug
He calls me Dad and I call him Bub
With his faded old pillow and a bear named Pooh
He snuggles up close and says, "I want to be like you"
I tuck him in bed and I kiss him goodnight
Trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light
And I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see
He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me

Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me

Got to admit I've got so far to go
Make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know
Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try
With all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right
But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best
Being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness
'Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees
And the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me
Right now from where he stands I may seem mighty tall
But it's only 'cause I'm learning from the best Father of them all

Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me

We just had the privledge of having a full 24 hours without children, and it was fabulous. Matt and I needed a rest so much. Now i feel refreshed and ready to love on my children. It's been an extreamly difficult year for us. With special needs issues, matt working overtime, building up our business, and having little suport I think it's been one of the hardest years of our marriage. We just have really stuggled to be patient and loving with the kids just feeling so burnt out. So this weekend really felt like a renewing time.
We haven't had any interest in the house lately. We really trust that God knows best and that he's got bigger plans for us that we can't comprehend. with all of the overtime Matt has been working he is actually training for a new position which could possibly move us into a postion with better hours and pay. The house is still for sale, but we are just feeling like maybe God wants us to stay put for now. Though it is really hard for me to put my dream of moving back to the midwest on hold, i know that it may at the time be for the best. Only time will tell. So in the meantime we are actually working on fencing the property. If the house sells or not it's an improvement that is worth the investment. Once the fence is up it will allow Henry (our goat) to free range instead of being tied up. Also we are considering getting another goat as a kid and then raising it to be a pack goat. So when we go hiking and backpacking he then can carry stuff for us :) We haven't even gotten him yet and matt wants to name him Bob. So the plan is if we aren't able to move then next spring we will buy a baby bull and band him (fix him) let him eat our grass and get him nice and chunky and then eat him. From there if all goes well we will expand. Of course our plans will change if the house sells and we are able to move, or if our home business really takes off, or if the patient makes a million dollars. Then we will reevaluate.
Oy! so there a little update for you :) I still have a ton of unfinshed posts on thoughts to publish, but time is precious a minimal to sit on the computer and type these days!

Food update

About 3 years ago we started down the gluten free path with Joshua. At first it was hard... wait who am i kidding.. it was VERY hard. Now it seems like a breeze at knowing what he can and cannot eat, though most of the battle is just figuring out something that he WILL eat. Though we switched Joshua over to being gluten free, the rest of us remained on the same diet that we have always had. Then when Daniel came along we discovered that he could not tolerate very much dairy (i forgot to add as well as Joshua) but he was fine with wheat. So up until about a week ago i was make on average 2 separate meals a meal time, sometimes 3 different meals. Let me tell you, that is super wearing... to figure out not only 3 normal meals a day but 3 GF/CF meals a day on top of that.. OY! Not to mention Matt is a bit of a picky eater when it comes to anything that grows on trees bushes or in the ground.
I finaly said THAT'S IT! I went off gluten for a month, i feel great and i decided the rest of us are going to mainly go off gluten as well. Just in the main meal making. For instance in making Chicken dumplings.. instead of normal biscuit mix I use GF mix... so far so good! we'll see what the next couple of weeks bring.

Updated picture of the house...

And the boys :)

Father's day adventure with grandpa Crume

Wow, It's been a while since I've updated on life. Let's see... how about I share some pictures :)









I always have these great post topics in my head, but by the time the boys are in bed and the house is picked up it's super late and Matt is using the computer to work on his business. So solid thoughts and great blog posts aren't very plentiful lately. Sorry... but i am keeping a list of things that i would like to share someday!
For now quick updates...
Joshua has lost two teeth. He does not stop talking. His imagination is amazing and complex and fascinating. His favorite game right now is hide and seek. He is very opinionated and he is sensitive of others emotions.

Daniel loves taking things apart and putting them back together. He loves order and helping me clean around the house. He still is super cuddly and we are starting to hear more noises come from him. He also has been saying "BUH" and "HU" (bye and hi) and waving when people are coming or going. Each day he seems to improve more.

Elijah is doing great. Each day we are fascinated by him and how "normal" he is. Even though he is a year and a half he has a huge vocabulary, he has lots of imaginative play and he is super social. He truly is a joy and a blessing.

And that's about it for the boys. We are still in the waiting game for moving and selling out house, but we know that the Lord's timing is best.
Oh and my ducks are almost grown! I LOVE having ducks!!!! They are so much more pleasant then chickens!