Spring Break: Day 1

What you can't see in this picture is the fact that he had m&ms all over his face.  He's drinking a Mt. Dew.  And holding a tennis (?) racket.  This is how we roll for spring break.

I'm pretty sure he has no idea what spring break means, but he was so excited about it.  He was excited that he didn't have to go to school and excited that YESTERDAY, HE TURNED 5 1/2. 

This morning, he woke up earlier than he would on a school day and said, "Mom, it's spring break.  We can sleep in!"  And then he said, "We can snuggle."  But I had to go to work.  I know that some day, spring break will mean breaking away from mom and dad for a week, but for now, I appreciate the snuggles.  For the record, even though I did have to go to work, I managed to sneak in a few seconds of snuggles.

He spent the day at our house with Ol' Ma.  I wanted to get a picture of them together, but I forgot.  Today he told her "I will always love you."  Or something like that. It was sweet.  I love seeing the two of them together. 

I am off work the rest of the week.  And to say I'm excited would be the understatement of the century.  I'm ready to spend a few days with my boy. 

When the Pants Won't Button

"Mom, Mr. Atchley (vice principal) wanted me to give you a message - no more jeans?"  

"What??? Why?" 

"I don't know, that's all he said."

I tried to figure out what was going on, so I had Logan demonstrate to me that he does, in fact, know how to button his jeans and he did fine.

So, I texted the vp because he also happens to be my brother and I just asked him if Logan was trying to be difficult and make Mr. Atchley button his pants every day. 

VP called me back rather than text to explain the situation.  Apparently, Logan had to be talked to previously because he likes to lift his shirt above his head.  And then, he likes to leave his pants unbuttoned.  He told Mr. Atchley that his pants were too tight....umm, no.  Logan's waste is so small that he can wear size 2 pants if it weren't for his height.  So, I KNOW that his pants were not too tight. Mr. Atchley told him that if his pants were too tight, he needed to talk to his mom about that. 

At the time I was talking on the phone, Logan was sitting on the couch, wearing said jeans, with his knees folded and basically touching his chin.  I don't know about you, but when my jeans are tight, I don't exactly have that kind of range of motion. 

Anyways, so I assure Uncle Dave that we will talk to Logan about keeping his clothes on appropriately. 

When I got off the phone, I checked Logan's pants and he had more than enough breathing room.  I told him to push his stomach out like he has a baby in his tummy...an he did, and he still had room in his pants. 

So, I ask him "did you tell uncle Dave that your pants were too tight?"  

Logan's response, "oh, you know me, always telling stories."

All the Cool Kids Wear Glasses

Skating

At the beginning of January, my nieces had a birthday party at a skating rink.  It was Logan's first time.  He wasn't thrilled.  He gave it a chance and didn't love it. 

Me:  Logan, don't you like skating? 

Logan:  Nah, I just like doing my Logan thang.

 I gave it my best shot and skated as much as I could...I'm old.  And out of shape.  I fell once (and only once because I immediately took my skates off after that) and hit pretty hard.  Two weeks later, and I'm still sore. 

These two -- Best Friends.  I LOVE it.

New Year

We spent New Year's Eve our favorite way - at home.  We were in bed by probably 10:30 or so, but not before we did some celebrating. 

We all drank some "fancy juice" (sparkling grape juice) from our "fancy glasses."

 

 

And we made some noise.

And I've already messed up on my New Year's Resolution to post at least twice a week here.  We'll see if I can do better moving forward!

 

Christmas 2013

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday.  Logan got to open his new pjs (pictured below) on Christmas Eve.  He still believes in Santa, despite my many attempts to convince him that he's not real.  So, "Santa" left him some pretty special gifts.

 I must say that Christmas 2013 was my favorite Christmas to date.  I truly cannot believe how much joy a child brings into one's life.  We just had the best time watching his eyes light up and seeing him appreciate every little thing.  After every gift, he would say thank you and give us a hug.

 I'm not gonna lie.  Logan received a lot of gifts...both from us and from family.  And I don't feel like I need to apologize for that (well, I guess I feel like I do since I'm writing this, but I more wanted to record this for Logan's sake....for when he IS old enough to understand all the ins-and-outs of money).  We talked a lot about the 3 gift idea that is popular these days.  For us, we want to teach Logan about being appreciative and thankful and understanding the blessing that we do have and I personally don't believe that you have to be destitute or poverty-stricken to understand that.  Everyone can teach their children in the way that they see best.  We are blessed in many ways, and we thank the Lord for ALL OF IT. 

 Don't get me wrong- I'm not sure that Logan got any more than any other kid across the country.  I just want him to know that his daddy and mommy put thought into the giving process and what we want him to learn by giving and receiving.

 

I just love the Christmas season with a little one...the anticipation, the talking about everything over and over, wondering about what's going to happen, the excitement of Christmas morning and then...comes the New Year.  What blessings we experienced in 2013 and we are thankful to our Lord for each and everything we experienced and what we received.

When God Says No

You don't hear about this much.  I think Christians don't like to talk about it because they feel that it will give God a bad reputation or something.  Sometimes, God says no.  And it hurts.

I very boldly prayed for a baby by Christmas this year.  It didn't happen.  I was sure that it would...I mean, we've been waiting almost 4 years.  What a great story it would have been to pray that God would bring us a baby and then HE DID.  Wow.  That would have been an amazing story, right?

God said no.  I don't pretend to understand.  I don't pretend that my heart isn't hurt.  BUT I do trust that God's ways are better than mine.  Period.  I don't have to understand and I don't need to question it.  I got an answer and it is no.

I don't know what the next year holds for us.  Zeb has been ready to throw in the towel on adoption #2 for quite some time, but I haven't been ready.  I think if we don't get a baby by the time our next homestudy expires that we will be done waiting and continue our life with just the three of us.  It's a very good life.  I LOVE being a mama so much that I want to multiply it, you know?  God has given me no greater gift than to be a mom.  It continuously forces me to evaluate myself and try to be a better version of myself.  Being a mom is the BEST!!

I'm going to pray that God will mold my heart.  That I will seek after what HE wants for me instead of what I want for myself.  Sometimes, when the answer is no, God directs us in another way in order to refine us for His glory.  It's not an easy lesson.  I'm not going to say I'm not hurt.  But glory be to God for His gifts to us -- even answers that are "no."