Birthday Bonanza Part I: NC

This year was FULL of celebrations for the Triple Kratt birthdays. For those of you who don't already know: my daughter Emily was born on September 26, my daughter Anna was born September 29, & my husband Bill was born on September 30th. so 3/4 of the birthdays in our house are celebrated together. Bill is VERY thankful for what he calls the two best birthday presents in the world!

This year we started off the festivities we NC friends & family. First off there was a scare on Thursday, Emily threw up for no reason just once and a whole bunch...I freaked out, cancelled, and told, everyone not to come... Well, all day Friday she seemed just fine. So, encouraged by my cousin Shad and Aunt Alex we decided the show must go on! Friday night Shad, Mary, Tyler, & Chloe Rayner arrived! This is my cousin and his family~they live just a short drive away in Fayetteville,NC. Shad had a hockey tournament.

Saturday, Bill ran his first half marathon! He finished this in two hours and five minutes! I am very proud of him )after two miles I would have stopped off for ice cream and/or donuts).

While he was doing this Mary & I prepared for the party! Thank the Lord for Mary(who is really more like Martha wink wink)She helped me organize and I prepared the cake~ Miss Anna picked this theme: Minnie Mouse. This was my first cartoon character cake decorating experience...Anna B.~ the Martha Stuart of our region gave me some advice and I was off and decorating. It was worth the smiles from Bill & the girls(I think Bill actually liked it the most!) It was such a joy to have so many friends and family to share this special day with!

Depravity and evil lurk in every corner quietly poised to rip and tear. Desconcerta convenes waiting and yearning on her throne in the center of the castle. She wants to be a dove: soft, docile, and peaceful. However, she shrieks like a Pteranadon seeking battle after battle. Will she sit and wait? Will she choose the honourable path? No, not always! Desconcerta rocks back on her throne thankful for His grace.

Plans

I was so excited this past week. Bill & I were going to go on a date to Arts' Night. I would get to share my pieces with others and see and hear new artwork and poetry. For me it really doesn't get much better than that. Not to mention all in a place that has ice cream & coffee!!! I looked forward to it all week.

Well, Saturday finally arrived. We had made a lovely dinner for our neighbors and were enjoying good food and fun times. Finally, as we were all finishing up; Anna climbed up into her booster and projectile vomitted not once but three times. What a show!!!!!!!

I washed my little muchkin up, Bill cleaned off her chair, and Nanc busily put everything away. My sweet husband said, "You go on to the Arts Night and I will take care of Anna but I couldn't. I could not be anywhere except holding and praying for, and loving on my sweet little lady.

I am sharing this with you because mothering does not come naturally to me, just as puting others first doesn't, and being a wonderful wife. But the Lord in this moment gave me His heart for what should be top priority in my life. He has made it clear to me: Lord, Husband, then children. I am not going to tell you that I don't struggle with dreams of personal career goals. But the Lord has sent me these special gifts for a short while, sometimes they drive me crazy and give me fits. But I pray for the strength to care for them as He would have me care for them. And I thank Him that He is enough! He is all that I need, His grace is sufficient! I will rest in the peace that no matter the plans I have His are the best!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

First Day of School

Yesterday was Emily's first day back to Preschool. She is in the four year old class this year with Miss Donna. I am excited for her Miss Donna is very structured and has a great curriculum lined up for this year boasting that most of her children are reading by the end of the year. But best of all the Lord is an intregal part of her learning. She enjoyed her first day and told me she read a book about a Raccoon.

It has been a struggle to decide homeschool vs. school. For Bill & I that choice was made clear when we found Pisgah Weekday. I love the staff and know my child is getting what she needs. Miss Anna & I get some time to explore the world together which is fun, too.

I am eagerly awaiting cool fall air, apple cider, & pumpkins.

"We have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" 2Corinthians 3: 4-5