The foxes

Who knew that a children's lock on a door could cause such anger...I'm talking straight rage.  Didn't think I had it in me??  Think again.  We recently got cheap little children locks on all the doors because of Ezekiel's recent escape attempts (more on that later).  But after putting them on I realized not only could my 3 year old not open the door but after 5 minutes of many attempts, I too could not open our front door.  Now, in my defense the door was definitely jammed before we put them on so it just made it pretty much impossible to open (or that's what I tell myself).  So when I'm carrying snacks, a gym bag, my purse, and jackets... spending 5 minutes opening a door can actually make me want to physically hurt something.  You must know what I'm talking about...when kicking or hitting an inanimate object will be the only thing that will make you feel better and those 4 letter words you promised yourself you'd never say in front of the children somehow slip out.

 Have you ever noticed that when something bad happens that's a big deal, most of the time God's grace rushes in.  It's almost like we know we can't control it and I run to the Lord cause I know He is the only one that can fix it and or give me the grace to walk it out.  But it's those foxes in this life that can continually test us, try us, and press us.  It's when we are all ready to go and the car won't start...it's when we call costumer service on something and we get the rudest person ever...and they don't even speak English!, it's when our kids decide in the morning that they are plotting anarchy and the rest of the day feels like a war zone, and it's when we kick ourselves (and the door) for putting on the most ridiculous child door locks in the world!  It's at these moments through out the day we have a choice...


 A choice to choose joy or to choose complaint.  To choose Him or to choose escape.  To choose the hand that He's given us or to choose fantasy and day dreams.  He allows it all...the pressing, the trials, the hardships, the downright irritations and annoyances of everyday life...actually, he doesn't just allow it...He promises it... "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."  1st Peter 4:12

Why am I so surprised? Why am I so shaken?  Whether it be something huge or just a bad day with the kids... why am I so quick to get angry, frustrated, overwhelmed, and ultimately offended and confused with God's ways.

They are opportunity's...each one... no matter how big or how small.  He is asking in every trial, "Will you fix your eyes on me?" "Will you run to me?" "Will you, with My grace, choose joy today and let me put My heart of love and peace within you?"  "Will you trust me?"

I feel like I fail 99% of the time...but that one beautiful percent when He gives me His heart, His eyes, His perspective...in that place, truly nothing else matters. 

This I am confident in...the more I fix my gaze on Him the more I will have His heartbeat and His eternal perspective.  Thank you Jesus for His Mercy's new every morning and I will rest in this assurance-
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" Philippians 1:6

So I am not perfect....I pretty much convinced I am the farthest thing from it...but with His grace I will turn to Him in the good and in the bad....I will trust Him regardless of the circumstances and cry out to Him even in the mundane.

Snow day..minus the snow

Because it's been so warm this winter the kids have been anxiously anticipating when the weather man would predict even the slightest bit of snow.  Well that day finally came.  The kids woke up at 5:30 am and school was called off...the high for the day was 15 degrees with a ridiculous wind chill...and the snow accumulation-I think about 1/10th of an inch (yup, our school systems are VERY cautious).  haha  We spent I think at least 45 minutes to an hour layering them up in 2-3 pair of leggings, multiple shirts and socks and searching through every piece of clothing in the house to find hats and mittens.  We finally headed outside and I think we totaled about 6-8 good minutes out there in that fluffy white snow. :)  The kids tried so hard to be excited about the snow, but after realizing that this was certainly not "snow angel" weather and the fact that the wind chill felt like it was burning our faces off...we all decided that 6 minutes was enough and that hot cocoa and the nice cozy couch sounded pretty dang good!  :)  I guess unless some random snow storm occurs, this will have to hold us over until next year.  Although I don't think they would see it as a huge loss...hot cocoa, no school, and re-runs of Fresh beat band make for a pretty good day...snow or no snow.  :)

Annabella's first makeover

Our friends (well more like family) came into town for New Years Eve weekend and we we were trying to think of something to do for New years eve.  Well Annabella had been begging Katie all weekend to give her a makeover so we decided that New Years Eve was just the night!  :)  Annabella has had on nail polish before but besides that she has never worn any make up besides lip gloss.  So this was her dream come true!  I warned her that this was a one night deal...kinda like Cinderella...and after the night was through she had to return to her sweet little five year old self..without makeup.  :)  But boy did she soak up every minute of it!

 Annabella wanted a different color nail polish on every finger and toe.. Katie was very patient.  :)

 Lipstick...

 Eye Shadow AND eye liner!

 then Katie straightened her hair!  She looks soooo big!!  And her hair looks sooo long!

 After it was straightened, she then curled it

 My sweet little princess

 Cinderella and her fairy god mother  :)

Happy New Years from the Cochrans!

 

Happy belated Christmas/New Years from the Cochran's!!!

Another year goes by and I continue to slack when it comes to sending out those Christmas cards.  I mean, I have every intention and then when the moment seems right to type something out...a kid throws up ( no exaggeration haha)...and when it came to getting a family picture taken...well besides my kids now resenting all camera equipment (don't be alarmed if your holding a camera in your hand and my children run in fear at the thought that you might try to force them to be still and smile)...but also there were so many sweet babies being born everywhere, (I love me some babies) that I didn't have time to ask anyone to actually take a picture of us!   The above picture is taken by my mom before we all ran out the door to go to some Christmas festivity.  :)  

 So with that being said, here is my late night attempt to a very late Christmas card!  :)

Hope all is well with all of you!  Things have been busy, busy, busy around these here parts! (Oh wait,I don't know if I can say that anymore,I'm not in Texas) :).  This time last year we were packing up our family for the 7th time and moving away...and this time it was back to the mountains of North Carolina.  I still can't believe we've been here almost a whole year!  Here's a little peek into what we've been up to:

 Charlie has been blessed with the amazing ability to work from home!  He has continued to keep his job in Houston at MD Anderson and just has to go in about once a year to check in...did I mention that it is SUCH a blessing!!!  :)  He continues to excel at his job- computer programing- and is in the process of creating some side developments he has been working on. He is still a music lover and now has what he's been dreaming of for 7 years of marriage: a MAN room!  :)  A room where he can have his office, all his stuff (and don't let boys fool you..they have plenty of "stuff") and of course ALL his music/ recording equipment. 

Ezekiel is still Ezekiel. If you know him, you know what I mean.  There is not a calm, chill bone in that boys body.  I mean I guess when he's sick or something.  :)  Ezekiel has just really started talking (better late than never) and is a little chatter box. (He's his mother's son!)  He will be 3 on Feb 1st and milking every last minute of the whole terrible two's thing!  He is quite the strong willed one  (as Dobson would say) and is a spit fire to say the least; but one thing about his personality that has just continued to develop over this year would be his JOY!  He is joy spilling over.  Charlie likes to say, "he is a living exclamation point!" and that he is!  :)  He wakes up singing and dancing and running 30 mph without a break, I'm not gonna lie...it's exhausting! His favorite thing this year (and for as long as I can remember actually) has been cars.  He's obsessed (And I do NOT use that word lightly).  He calls cars "bobos"...do not ask me why. haha  Another really funny thing he has picked up since he began to talk is he calls Malachi "Bad guy".  One day he just started saying, "bad guy...bad guy" and he just saw a spider man cartoon so I was like, "thats right Ezekiel, did you just see a bad guy on tv?"  He then began to shout it louder and pointed to Malachi. It was then (about 4 months ago) that we realized that he pronounced Malachi as "bad guy". haha  Now we definitely get some funny looks when were at the store and Ezekiel screams, "Mama! Bad guy hit me! Bad guy hit me!!!" hahaha

Malachi is 4 and half and is such a joy to have around.  He is our family's little super hero and can't be found without some sort of spider man or power ranger outfit on.  He is all boy but also has come into a great love for the arts.  He loves to draw and color and will sit and do it forever it you let him.  He also loves music and will sit with his daddy and just listen to all sorts of music on his lap without moving a muscle.  Malachi is still not potty trained I'm getting very, very, VERY weary after 4 very extreme attempts!  **prayers much appreciated** Although, Malachi has always been someone to do something on his own time and this is no exception.  He started preschool at a little Christian School right down the road from us and goes 3 mornings a week.  He definitely likes it but it is quite an adjustment going from being home with mommy all the time.  He likes all the kids there and is even making some friends outside of school, but truth be told...Malachi would rather be with his brother and sister than anyone else in the entire world, and I think they feel the same way in that.  Not to say that they don't love their other friends but in the past year the 3 of them are like the little musketeers and are each others whole world.  He is also super into sports and is excited about starting soccer again in the spring.

Annabella is five!  Wow, just as I type that I feel the weight of it...five...geezee, where did the time go?!  She started Kindergarten this year and loves it. (except for the reading and resting part.. she comes every day and makes sure to tell us that she liked everything EXCEPT the reading and resting! haha)  We planned on homeschooling her this year but because of a few different things going on we decided to wait a year or two before we bring her home.  Although I will say that I was looking at some home school curriculum this week and I got pretty giddy about it!! :)  Annabella is ALL girl...ALL posh..ALL princess.  I cannot tell her a bedtime story without it having at least one mermaid, one princess, one fairy, and one ballerina....get the picture?!  :)  She is like living with a real live Scarlett O'Hara...the passion and drama never stops flowing. But with that being said, she is SO much fun to have around!  We have tea parties at least 3 days a week and as you can imagine, the conversation is never boring!  :)  She is currently taking ballet at a local ballet school and of course loves every minute of it! She also has been asking for awhile now about taking violin lessons so I think we will be looking into that soon as well.  The kids are super excited about heaven right now and love talking about it.  It seems like once a day Annabella will ask with a look of wonder in her eyes, "What does heaven look like again mommy?!"  I LOVE watching the Lord working in and through my children...it truly is the best gift a mother can ever have!

As for me, life doesn't ever change too much for mothers of young munchkins.  I will say though, it is amazing living literally a stone throw away from my parents...it is SO fun being able to call my mom and tell her that the tea kettle is on the stove and she says, "I'll be right over with the tea bags and cookies!"!   Life is no doubt crazy in this season of life...some days I feel like I can hardly keep my head above water and other days (with God's grace) I feel like I can finally get my rhythm down.  This season of life is just busy for any mom and now with starting my own photography business it throws everything into overdrive.  I am also in the process of trying to home school my boys in the afternoon and although it will take time, I know it is way worth it!  The Lord is teaching me to delight in the things He has given me and to not refuse his beautiful gifts.  Right now those gifts are a 3, 4, and 5 year old and I want to sow all that I have into teaching them and raising them up to be lovers of Him.  I am excited about what the year holds and am asking the Lord that He will continue to show me what is a priority to Him and to make His desires my desires.

Have a blessed 2012!!!

Many Blessings,

The Cochrans

Charlie,Mary,Annabella,Malachi, and Ezekiel