Update

I haven't really written in a while...I have barely been able to keep up with just pictures, let alone really sit down here and write...and I really have so many thoughts in my head and things I would like to write about, but time just seems to elude me and too many nights I crash into bed exhausted. It has been a busy couple months...and I am sure I am not the only one who feels that way!

Anyway, I still don't really have a "deep" post like I would like to write, but I do want to give a little snippet of what is going on in our lives...

Stephen is doing good...this spring he accepted the church's vote to have him stay at CLCC on an extended call, which means we won't have to vote again in another four years, which gives us a little more job security! Plus we still really love it at CLCC and feel very much at home and that this is where God wants us. I know Stephen has had a LOT on his plate, and some nights I would just look at him and say, "I don't know how you do it." It is just hard being a pastor...a lot of weight on his shoulders, a lot of painful things...and with all the ripples of things going on this spring, it has been hard. Very hard. Prayers and leaning on God have been the only thing keeping us going so many times. But God is moving and there are some great things in the midst of these growing pains! The youth is ON FIRE. It is SO exciting to see their passion and growth and just the unbelievable change in their lives. It is amazing. Our small group is bursting at the seams...and we are about to get FIVE more babies to add to that total! Stephen started various small groups within the church that seem to really be taking off. In non-church news, Stephen is LOVING having our own yard this spring...he loves "playing" on his tractor and doing things around the yard. He is getting ready to plant our garden, we planted some new trees and cut down some others. He mowed the lawn last night for the first time, and also does all the road care for our little "development" of houses since the three roads back in here are all private roads. He is excited that it is FINALLY starting to get warm enough for him to ride his motorcycle (a month later than last year) and is starting to get the camping itch.

Damaris is just as girly as ever. Stephen sometimes calls her "Addy" - short for "attitude" when she starts getting an attitude...she really is not lacking in that department...we are in trouble when she is a teenager!!!!!!!! She is really starting to color and draw, which she never cared about before. It is so cute...I just love her little pictures of people, and watching her color and try to stay in the lines. She has never wanted to learn letters or numbers, and I didn't want to push it, but she surprises me in how much she has picked up...like she did the alphabet to "t" completely unprompted and counted into the teens all by herself too. Our babysitter is starting to work with her a little bit during the day, and this fall I am going to put her in preschool. It is fun seeing this side of her :). She all of a sudden really "got" her dance class and is doing very good!!! This is the last month since they take the summers off. She has loved doing it! She is very quick to want to pray, especially if someone is hurt, which is very cute. She is VERY excited for warmer weather because she LOVES wearing skirts and dresses and short sleeves :)

Titus is such a quick learner, and he loves learning new things. During March, his class learned about Antarctica and it amazed me how much he picked up and remembers and understands. He is just a little sponge! We are still at a loss on what to do with him next year though - and I am very eager for spring parent/teacher conferences so we can talk to his teacher. He can't sit by the other kids or he bugs them and doesn't do his work. He won't do his work without a timer and being reminded contently. I don't know if it is because he is bored or if he likes the attention, or if he is just struggling with staying on task because he is so young for his class. We are trying some new things and working with him on obeying the first time and choosing to work without a timer if he wants to play the Wii, and that seems to have helped this week. I think I might come up with some incentive for good behavior for next week...still thinking through some ideas :) It is soooo cute to have him write me little "I love you Mom" notes and he is VERY gifted at drawing and coloring...I just love it. It is fun seeing him sound out words and read and understand some of the world around him, and I love it when he writes and tries to "journal". Just the other day he made his own book...all his own idea! He folded a paper into thirds and started drawing pictures and writing a story. It was awesome! It is fun to see how much he has really grown up this year by going to school. He is becoming a little man :)

Now about me...I never really know what to write...there is sometimes so much I don't even know where to start :). I have been busy around the house and with family stuff, which means I have had to put my Melaleuca business kind of on the side. But I am still plugging away at it - consistency is key! I joined because I really loved their business model, but I have COMPLETELY fallen for their products. A good problem to have! I just love how they work, that they are safe, and the value of what I am getting. And there is still SO much more I want to try and use. I love, love love it!!!!!!! And hopefully that spills out as I am talking to other people about joining, because the more I go the more I love it, and just want to share that with others - whether they just want to be a customer or want to do the business like me. I still love that anyone can join, and they have a non-profit program so I am focusing on helping churches right now. As far as what has been consuming me at home...well, being gone 50 hours a week for work at my full time job is kind of overwhelming at times, and it is really wearing me down...but I keep going because I don't have any other choice right now :) I love my boss and the flexibility he gives me, and that has been a LIFE SAVER for my sanity. I am still on the Praise Team at church, and another lady and I do the 0-5 year olds for Sunday School. I am also on the Women's Ministry leadership/planning team, although I have had scheduling conflicts with meetings lately, and then actually skipped the last event just because I needed to be HOME. And of course we are involved with our small group, which I LOVE. I try to get to all the events at the church as much as possible too. So obviously that all keeps me busy on top of my job. And then around the house we have had several projects...I painted the upstairs and downstairs bathroom and trim and then last weekend I painted the dining room and living room. We bought curtains and hung pictures and decorated a little bit, and it is amazing how much more like home the house feels. It makes me want to keep going on the painting, but it is SO much work. But I like doing it...so I just need to find the time! We also paid off our motorcycle, which feels SO good! Still more to go, but one small step closer to being debt free and me being able to stay at HOME. I am also looking forward to warmer weather and being able to be outside more, riding the motorcycle and camping. I just love summer!!!!!!!!

Well, I know that this is a long post, but wanted to share where we all are with life right now!!