wanted to take some time...

to remember some of my favorites...
-sitting outside with friends around a fire
-sitting on the porch with friends
-sitting on the porch reading my bible
-going for a long run and getting completely soaked in sweat
-praying with people
-being outside

Sometimes I forget what I like. I think I get so caught up in what's next that I often forget my favorites.
I was going to meet up with some new friends at a bar on campus and I mean I'm fine with that but then I had this fleeting thought of summer time and the porch. I then began to think of the feelings I had during those times and well... going to a bar on campus just doesn't give you that same relaxed feel.
I've never longed for summer time the way I have this winter.
How can winter be so beautiful but so depressing?

My week in a nutshell.

Wiped snotty, snotty noses.

Said "Please Stop" at least five thousand times.

Wiped more snot.

Played with plastic food. 

Picked up plastic food.

Went to PIT.

Fed Lauren more food than was available.

Wiped more snot.

Wiped even more snot.

Snuggled with Grayson... when he wasn't yelling "NO" at me.

Changed some diapers.

Wiped more snot.

Welp.. it was nice talking to you.

I like a good book.

I can devour a good book in a day or two (or longer)... depending on the size and how busy I am. Either way, I was reading a book by Beth Moore and I started it a long time ago and then put it down and just recently picked it up again. She definitely has some good things to say but as I was getting towards the end I was just getting bored. So I started to skim to the end. I realized I needed something with depth not another "Jesus loves you accept yourself for who you are book" ... although those are important things... I just wanted something to chew on.
So, I picked up A.W. Tozer's "The Pursuit of God."
Nothing more needs to be said.
Except that this is the second time I've read it and I'm still not bored with it.

Work is always different without Sara.

Sara and Lauren left for Florida yesterday.
For some reason I thought things would be normal :)
When I got here no one was awake. Drew comes out in his pajamas to inform me that everyone went to bed at 11pm... except Grayson.
So, Drew goes back to bed.
Grayson wakes up.
We go downstairs to have breakfast.
As we are sitting at the table Hudson walks out fully clothed.
I think to myself "Oh good he went to bed late but managed to wake up early AND get dressed"
Then I look at his shirt. One side is orange from the cheetos he had eaten the night before and the other side had a pop stain extending from his shoulder down to the middle of his stomach.
When I asked him what he was wearing he told me that he had slept in the clothes he wore yesterday.
I also realized that he had ventured from his parents bedroom, not his own.
He then took off with his DS to his room.
I kind of brushed off the encounter and made my way into the living room only to find a bowl that once had cheetos in it, a pillow that belong upstairs and some other odd things.
After a quick pick up I decided to start on the kitchen.
Drew eventually emerged to explain all the nights events.
They were watching some show that lasted until 11. So Hunter decided to that they should have a slumber party. Drew didn't see Hudson escape into his room fully clothed... and it was to late to clean anything up.
I know they didn't leave the mess with the intention of me cleaning it up... it's just what happens when you leave 1 man and 3 boys at home alone :)

My conclusion...

Okay. So after a minor freak out and a long drive I have come to the conclusion that a lot can happen in 4 months... don't get me wrong.... nothing could happen as well. I'm just trying to stay positive here and not give myself a migraine.
There is a verse that says "Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him and He will act." (psalm 37:5)
So... if I commit this to him and trust... He will act??
Something will happen.. right?
Yeah...
That's right.
I'm definitely going to continue to freak out these next couple of months.
Awesome.

Yes I'm stressed out.

In a couple of months I will be moving to Indy.
Where will I live?
Where will I work?
How will the bills get paid?
Church?
Friends?
Breathing?
Will I have a roommate?
Will I be able to eat?
Do I have to pay for parking?
Am I going to have time to go back to college?
I have to go back...
Breath?
Help.

Water for Elephants.

Great book. You must read it.
On another note.
The babies just woke up from a nap so I'm sitting at the table with one on either side of me, listening to them smack their little lips and every now and then bang their sippy cups in satisfaction.
Here's the baffling part. Gray starts off with cereal and some granola. I have granola and yogurt. Lin Yu has blueberry puffs and a granola bar. Gray asks for pretzels but I tell him he has to finish his cereal first. So he quickly takes several bites then hands me the bowl and before I know it Gray has my yogurt and Lin Yu and I are finishing his cereal...
Sense when is it okay to eat after a 2 year old??
Not sure what happened this last year.
I don't remember ever voluntarily eating after a kid.
I also don't remember when yelling "You must bring home you math homework!!", as the older kids run to the morning bus, became a daily saying.
Or how I'm able to carry on a full conversation with someone while Grayson is at my feet screaming and kicking and act as if that's not happening.
What's happened to me?

It was nice talking to you.

It's cold, cold today.

The new baby is fun... ish. She's pretty sassy and doesn't nap much longer than a hour and well... some days, like today, I need more than a  hour by myself and she's not very quiet once she's awake which then in turn wakes up Gray, who is a complete monster when he doesn't get all the sleep he needs. I guess I'm a complete monster when I don't get much sleep. The biggest difference is that I can't run around kicking and screaming. I have to listen to the kicking and screaming and try to think clearly. Interesting.
More later. I have to keep this kid quiet so Gray can take a nap.

These are the days...

... sleepless night prevail, midol becomes candy, hormones threaten to shoot me through the roof at any given moment and my back feels as if someone is following behind me holding onto my lower spine...

     Last night I laid in bed thinking of all kinds of things but I know at one point a verse in 2 Corinthians popped up. It has actually been popping up on a regular basis. I've actually maybe... slight confession... have neglected to read my bible or pray much during these holidays and well... we all know how that leaves us feeling... kind of stinky. I think things got a little out of wack when I was staying with the boys for those two weeks and when I came home I never really got back into a routine. I really just got into my bed and stayed there. Either way... the verse says...
     'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.'

Well... it was nice talking to you.

Just want you to know...

Ohio State plays Arkansas tomorrow at 8:30pm.
Tune in kiddos...