Giving Thanks

Thankful. I think I constantly make mental notes of the things I'm thankful for, but I never really sit down and take the time to let it all soak in because I think it would bring a flood of emotions I really don't have time to handle most days. It's almost a blessing to be forced to take time and just be thankful.

So cliche, but I'm thankful for the cross.... without it, my life would be meaningless. I can't explain the humility I feel in knowing that while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me. If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. Lord knows I need an ocean of grace at times in my life.

I'm thankful for Heath and the opportunity to get to share my life with him. He's like my other half! We have 2 farms side by side out in front of where we used to live, and I've told him how I used to ride 4wheelers out on those farms. He said, "I bet you never thought you'd be farming them one day." It's true! At 13 years old, I didn't know Heath would be the guy I'd marry, but I'm proud to call him my husband. He is the best Daddy my kids could ever have. He's handsome, loving, witty, hard working, kind hearted, and genuine. I love him so much!

My kids have shown me just how deep my love can go. I'm so thankful to have wonderful, healthy kids. Luke is just a little firecracker around here. He keeps us smiling and is tender hearted. When it comes to loving Heath, Luke gives me a run for my money. He loooves his Daddy. Heath puts him to bed at night, and I love listening to Luke tell Heath about his day, say his prayers, and then they tell each other "I love you." He makes me proud.

Landry is still the best baby and has made our love just multiply. We are thankful to get to experience life with a daughter. We see every new stage of hers as bitter sweet because it means we're leaving the previous stage for the last time. However, we are glad to be ending the baby phase on such a good note with a happy baby.

Luke giving Landry "fly fly kisses".

I'm thankful for all of my family.

My parents have always supported me and had realistic expectations of me. I've never doubted their love for me. My kids are blessed to have them as grandparents.

My brothers and their families mean the world to me. I can't imagine life without any of them, and I'm proud to have their wives as family. I absolutely love when we're all together.

My in-laws have been a huge blessing to me. They've all taken me in as their own, and they've believed in Heath to be able to farm - which has provided a way of life for us. My kids are blessed to have them as family, too.

I'm thankful for my extended family - The Roses in particular. I'm thankful for all of the memories I have with them. I see my kids building relationships with their cousins, and I pray they're long lasting like ours have been.

I'm thankful for our friends. We are really blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. I'm especially thankful this year for Traci Stanley and the blessing her and her family have been to us. I wouldn't even know where to start with "thank yous" to them. Life is just sweeter with that family in it.

And last, I'm thankful for our church. I'm glad we can have a place to take our kids outside of our house that will echo what we are teaching them here. I'm thankful for our home, and the confidence I can have in providing a stable place for my kids to grow up. I'm thankful for rain. I am extremely thankful for technology because it is so easy nowadays to capture memories with cameras and video cameras on our phones. I'm thankful for 2 healthy pregnancies and 2 fairly uncomplicated births. I'm thankful for holidays and the opportunities I get to spend time with all of these people I'm so thankful for!

In everything, give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Harvest and Halloween

Harvest.. I can't believe it's already over! We're glad to have Daddy home at decent hours because of the chaos around here at times, but the circumstances for the short harvest are not all that great. This year has been unbelievable! I know we'll always talk about what a record breaking year it was, highs and lows, for the weather and the crop.

So, we have just been adjusting to our new life with four. It's been challenging here and there! I feel like I need another hand sometimes. It's hard to hold a baby and help a 2 year old potty! Some of my challenges are petty, I know. I really do feel like superwoman sometimes though. I can carry an infant carrier with a baby in it, a 30 pound toddler, a drink, AND a portable cradle in the house at the same time from the car. I'm pretty proud!

Luke has adjusted really well to having Landry here. He was shy towards her at first, but now, he rubs on her head, shows her toys, and kisses on her. He helps me out during the day by fetching diapers or rocking sister in her cradle. His Daddy is his #1 buddy. When Heath is here, he insists on him to do everything... Get him in and out of his car seat, get him a coke for lunch too, put him to bed, help him potty... I can't even tell you how often I hear him say, "No! Daddy do it." -- Heath will take him to run errands in town, and Luke always comes back walking tall. He proudly told me one day he went to "John Deere's house."

Luke was Buzz for Halloween. Getting him to put on his costume was no simple task, either. He's kinda spooked of people dressed up, so he wasn't sure about it. He cried for about 45 minutes after he had it on... He even broke out in his splotchy face from crying - that's bad! Once we got going, he caught on and enjoyed it. We were proud! His cousins dressed up too, so that made it fun for him. Jaxon was Woody, and Miley was Jessie.

We took the kids by to see their great-great grandparents on Halloween. I'm still thrilled that Luke and Landry have gotten to meet them!

Landry with her great-great grandmother, June Moreland.

Landry is smiling all the time now and cooing like crazy. She's talking even when no one is around! She's a picky girl... She doesn't take a paci or a bottle. We've tried all kinds! She, like Luke, is lactose intolerant at this point, so I have eliminated all dairy from my diet. This will surely put a damper on my holiday feasting!!

She is sleeping less during the day, but she still has days where she may only be awake for 2 hours. The last 5 nights, she's slept 9 or 10 hours straight! This is a far cry from our Luker baby. In fact, Luke just now started sleeping good. I'm glad she's so easy. I can disperse my love more equally that way. :) She fusses in the evenings. She starts getting worked up around 6 and we just do whatever we can to keep her content for a few hours. I think the new term for that is "purple crying." But, she sleeps really good after that, so I can't complain.

Gotta share some more Shane and Shane..... I'm loving their new album! I went with a friend to see them about few weeks ago. I've been watching them for a long time, and it's neat to see them in completely different phases of their lives from when I was first introduced to them, probably, 12 years ago. They used to play barefoot with their khaki shorts and maybe have a drummer. Now, their concerts are very instrumental, and they tote their families along and dress kinda preppy. :)