Fear not.

As long as I can remember I have been consumed with fear. Fear of loss, fear of death, fear of man, fear of conflict, fear of financial struggles, fear of the unknown....

Unfortunately, it seems like everywhere I go fear permeates.  I know, of course that fear will continue to creep it's head until the day Jesus returns, but I do believe that God IS calling his people to walk in a place of unprecedented fearlessness (faith).  That statement alone can make my skin crawl and my flesh writhe, for it knows the implications.  Fearlessness is found in walking through the fire and finding God faithful on the other side, stepping into crazy uncertainty's and watching His hand be over it all, walking through the raging seas and trusting that they will not over take you.  Ultimately, fearlessness (faith) is formed in walking through fear, fire, and trials and coming out leaning on our beloved!

I have been reading the life of David and he, no doubt had the heart beat of God. I marvel and long for unshakable faith that David seemed to walk in so often.  I read the story we all know so well about Goliath...but wow...I mean it just gets me every time...

"The God who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He WILL deliver me from the hands of the Philistine's." - 1st Samuel:17:37

David had to have a back story...a time to look back on and say, "God was faithful then, He will be faithful again."

I long for that kind of faith...to trust Him despite ALL odds...

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for He is with me." Psalm 23:4

We cannot escape the wilderness, it is where we are taught, formed, stripped, and ultimately... restored.

The way of God is the wilderness, it's always been the wilderness; the way of God is weakness, voluntary weakness.

Jesus, make us a people who fear nothing but the fear of the Lord.

Settling in

Things are finally getting back to normal around here.  There aren't boxes over flowing into every bedroom and we aren't eating frozen pizzas for every meal...finally! :)  Yes, I think I am getting used to actually having to turn my car on 5-10 minutes before we leave so we won't freeze; and I am definitely getting used to going on my back porch and waving hello to my mama! (Thank you Jesus for Grandma's!!)  Yes...I think I am going to like it here...  :)  But I will say one thing..some things haven't changed.....

 back to dressing up.... :)

 and back to huddling on the kitchen floor and eating a box of cereal  :)

Yup, it doesn't matter how many miles away we move...my kids are still the lively, crazy, little  munchkins that they are.  :)   Malachi still is asking, "mom, when are we going back to our house? Ya know, back to Houston..." but with every day that continues even Malachi is warming up his new home.   The boys are loving all the alone time they get with mommy when Annabella goes to school in the morning; and Annabella thrives on being with other little girls who are just as girlie and imaginative as she is! 

I think the other night when we all 5 sat around our dinner table and held hands and prayed in our new kitchen...it hit me..I would move ANYWHERE as long as I could tow them around!  

So here's to another house, same old wonderful family!  :)

Ezekiel's 2nd birthday party

We threw a little party for Ezekiel with some close friends and family and the result was a bunch of crazy kids hyped up on cake and one happy birthday boy!!!

Annabella and I helped blow out the candles..Ezekiel looks disturbed haha

Nana drove down with Charlie and stayed a few days... Malachi soaked up every minute he could  :)

It was the most precious thing in the world when Ezekiel saw Charlie.  Charlie had to stay behind a couple weeks for work and drove down the day of Ezekiel's party and when Ezekiel saw Charlie he ran squealing as loud as he could with arms wide open screaming  "DADDDYYY!!!"  It could not have been a better welcoming!

Annabella was in heaven with her 2 new favorite girlies! 

Through all the commotion I couldn't find Malachi....this is where I found him.  hahaha   I. LOVE.that.kid.

Ezekiel with 2 of his adopted Aunties!  Aunt Jenna, and Aunt Katiebeth  :)

People asked what he wanted for his birthday...I told them he didn't need any more toys but could use some more shoes.  They thought they were just getting him something practical but what they didn't know what his obsession with shoes!  He was thrilled to see shoes with he opened his presents! haha

When he saw his new rainboots, he immediately took off his socks and shoes and propped his smelly feet on the table to try them on  :)

As you can see, he is quite pleased with them

And besides the boots, he got an awesome scooter (which he lovvveesss) Ya see, him and his brother share a little "ride on" truck; but their Nana  thought Ezekiel needed one so they could each join in on the fun.  Good thinking Nana.

Auntie Jenna getting attacked  :)

Nana and the kids with the new PJ's Nana bought them

Happy birthday little man!

Ezekiel: 2 looks good on you.

Maybe because it's easier to say my kids are 4,3, and 2 than 4,3, and 22 months, but I have been saying he's 2 for a little while now.  Either way it just seems like 2 is the right age for him.  He never did quite act 1, probably because he was always trying to keep up with his big brother and sister.....and I can't imagine him 3, ya know like talking and having real conversations haha.  But 2...that has always just seemed right. :) 

Ezekiel is over all the happiest kid out of the bunch, but also the most high strung and downright nuts!  I wake up to the sound of his feet jumping in his crib...it's like the second that boy opens his eyes his first inclination is to bounce.  Yes, he's our own personal Tigger.  :)

He laughs all the time and has just started this new laugh that sounds more like the laugh of the Hulk than of our sweet little Ezekiel! haha  He loves to be tickled, chased, and snuggled.   He loves playing with his big brother and sister but also LOVES to irritate them.  He wants to do everything they do, but has no patience to sit and actually build something, hence the irritation by Malachi and Annabella when Ezekiel knocks down every tower in mid way of building it.

He doesn't really talk...like at all.  haha  but Im not worried.. that boy knows what he wants whether he can actually communicate it or not.  :) All the kids just talk for him anyway.  And amazingly enough, I think they can actually understand him too!  He will mutter, " duuddyy bbyye inn thatt urrkk shdbahsbd" and Annabella will say, " Mom, he said he wants to see Daddy at work!" And Ezekiel will shriek with happiness that someone understands him! haha

That boy can put away some food too!  Just the other night he ate 2 big pieces of pizza and was crying for another...that was after many snacks.  We have to be like his bar tender when it comes to food and cut him off!   haha  What foods doesn't  he like?  I am literally racking my brain to try to think of something that boy won't eat....hmm..nothing coming to mind. haha  What does he love??  ...Bananas!  No shocker there, with his monkey tendencies and all.  :)

He is wonderful, charming, goofy, and sneaky.  He is cuddly, passionate, and downright silly.

Happy birthday to one amazing little boy!!!  I love you with all of my heart!