{2017 Recap}

So once again, time has ticked itself away and I find myself more than a few months behind.

England was amazing. (I just posted a blog post about it ... a little late, but it should recap our trip and outlook fairly well) We look forward to going back and taking all four of you with us. We've just begun the fundraising stage and being in the early stages there seems to be a lot still up in the air, but God has proved himself once again. Answering prayers and opening doors for us. It's been a slower process then I hoped or planned but that's life! We finally have a location! HOORAY! The process and paperwork for all that is still going through but we are excited to share with you guys and talk with you guys more and more about it.

We moved back to the country. And, of course, we are loving it. Farm fresh air. Room to run. Open sunrises and sunsets. Plenty of wood for bonfires. Dirt roads, wild flowers, wild animals, and creek swimming. To add to the fun tho, we added to our family ... 1. a cute new Golden Retriever - Schafer. Milo wanted to name him Farmer, but we came up with a compromise. (German word for shepherd = Schafer). 2. six little chics that will soon be full grown and laying us some beautiful eggs for breakfast! We will be working on their coop this weekend! It's been a fun journey just in the few weeks we've had them, to watch their fuzz turn to feathers and see them try to flap and roll in the pine shavings. They sure know how to stink a place up fast. Seems like I'm always changing out their tiny home. But it's fun to watch you guys watch them.

Weather has been nutty. It's been, I think, unseasonably warm. Today was a beauty! Nearly 80 degrees in April! It was gorgeous and we spent a large majority of it outdoors. Thank goodness. It was a super rainy and wet March so we were cooped up a lot.

Mr. Edwin has GROWN! Sir, you are a hunk and have a killer smile. That giggle gets this momma every time. Good golly! You are a solid 25 pounds and now stand at 31 inches at 9 months old!!! You babble, can say mama and dada and pull yourself up to standing on pretty much anything that will hold you. Your bare feet got the feel of grass for the first time this weekend... you weren't sure what to think. With one foot constantly up in the air, avoiding it, you gave in after a while and were crawling through it and stomping comfortably by the end of the day. You are content. You are a snuggle bug. And you love your siblings. You love balls, trucks, and eating puffs. You're hair is just long enough for a fo-hawk and has a few curly-q's over your ears. You aren't fond of the word 'no' and know how to stick that lower lip out to make your parent's hearts melt... but we stand firm and you get over whatever the 'no' is about quickly.

Norma. Norma. Norma. Our sweet and sassy gal. You currently are a big fan of the book "Fancy Nancy" and now that nicer weather is abounding, dresses are your thing! You can climb in them, walk in the woods in them, frog hunt, run, jump and well just about anything in a fancy dress. You pair them with your favorite rain boots and pink bow and now we call you, Fancy Norma. With which you get a large grin and approve. You are really trying your attitude on us. Pressing your boundaries. You are independent yet you love when we shower you with love and affectionate words. You can count, and love to sing. Jesus Loves Me is a fav along with You are my Sunshine. When the sunscreen came out for the first time this season, you're reaction was to ask if we were going to the beach! LOVE that. I love the way your hair is crazy every morning when you wake up and how you gently just push it aside like it's no big deal. You're vocabulary is very large for a someone your age... sometimes we forget that you are just two! You speak so well and so clearly for a gal of your age. It's a beautiful thing. To hear you carry on a conversation with your brothers or hearing you ask questions about the world around you.

Oh Theodore. You are something sweet. A tender heart. Compassionate. Content. You are solid in just being you. No need to be anything or anyone else. I recently asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, you replied (with a puzzled look), Mom I don't need to be anything, I'm just going to be Theodore. If I could only be that content and that sure with who I am. I LOVE this about you. God gives you such confidence in YOU and that blesses others. I pray you always keep that. You are eager to learn more and begin school. Your imagination is constantly going. With battles and new character friends, you are rarely bored. You can play with a single toy for hours, perfectly content with what your imagining and acting out. You struggle with listening from time to time because sometimes you just get caught up in these fun worlds, places, and battles. You still love rain boots but would always choose to be bare footed. You love snuggle time, kisses, hugs, and story time with daddy at bedtime. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Linus are a huge hit right now, along with the Narnia crew. You still LOVE pizza with a passion and recently discovered how amazing lasagna is. You're a slow eater unless there's pizza - then there's no time to waste and the pizza doesn't stand a chance.

Milo! Dear Milo. Can't believe your 7th bday is this year!!!! Whoa. How does this keep happening? Time just keeps slipping away and you keep getting taller. I feel your voice is beginning to change a bit from the small kid squeak to an elementary kid lisp. It's sweet and sad all at the same time. You are rocking at reading and math. You still love space, monkeys and anything FARM. You want to be a cow farmer when you grow up and Nadia, Isaiah, and Theo are going to be in on this too. Ya'll will own some land together, have some farm homes and each of you have come together to make the farm work. To hear the conversations between you all on what your jobs will be and who will live where, etc. is adorable. So heart warming to know you guys truly love one another and want to grow up together. Keep dreaming on big guy! You are a dreamer and I do believe you will do some amazing things with your determination and hard work. You are a dedicated worker. You take joy in knowing the job is getting done and getting done correctly. We have finally set up your college fund and each time you earn money some of it goes towards that fund, with excitement you tell anyone and everyone how you are saving your money for farm school and that you are going to be a farmer when you grow up. It's so fun to hear your dreams and help you plan for the future. You decided that if you have any money after farm school that you want to buy this land from Papa and live in the farm house, build up the old tractor shed, chicken coop, and barn across the street and this can be where ya'll will have your farm(s). I pray that you keep on dreaming and that God will use your hard working attitude and bigger then life dreams to build His kingdom. You are a powerful little man with a heart that's split between leader and servant.