Fun at 4

Yesterday we celebrated a little of Noah's birthday with my parents, my sister and her family. I told Beth (my sister) that they would not have had to get Noah a birthday present as long as they brought Trey to play with Noah. They had a lot of fun spending time together. I hate that we don't live closer so our kids could play more, but that's just part of the "ministry" so to speak. Although now that I'm not working outside our home anymore we do get to visit more often.

My mom came up Thursday afternoon so I could go with Cody to the AYC supper at East End MBC in Hensley. Ellie Kate and I went as Cody's "dates" and we had a really good time. That was the first time I had ever been to the supper and it was great to see some "old" college friends, like Stephanie and Isaac Woodard, Josh and Angela Edwards, and Joey and Syndal Cook. It's so amazing watching our children play together and realize how much our kids have changed our lives since we were together last. Having children often puts your priorities in place.

Back to my Noah, when Cody and I found out we were having a child only 5 weeks after we were married it was a shock! We didn't know what we were in for by any means, but God worked on us, and is continuing to work and make us more like him so that we can shape our children into who HE wants them to be. I have all kinds of plans for my kids, but I just want what God wants for them, and I've considered what if that means Noah or Elijah going into the Army? Would I still say that then? Or if God called them to a mission field, would I be okay then? I pray I would be.

This week I pray God will flood my mind with memories of Noah when we first brought him home from the hospital, and bring back to memory all the times Cody, Noah and I went to the lake when we lived in Mountain Home. It has not all been fun and games, like the set of tubes he had put in at 14 months old or the ear infections prior to his tubes being put in. God has been with us through it all every tear, every laugh, every sigh, he's seen it all through his eyes. What will the next year hold for my Noah? T-ball, soccer, size 4t pants, 4 year old sunday school class, the Helpers Discovery class. We have church camp, zoo trip, jumpzone, and lots of other trips this year. I cannot wait to watch him explore at 4!