alot

Really?  It's been this long since I've posted?  And now that it's midnight and I have to be up in about 5 hours, I think this is the best time to catch up?  There's just so much.  Please excuse the random stream of thoughts here, but putting all my thoughts into flowing verse escapes me at this hour.

Nathan turned two.  I have lovely pictures of his birthday, but my computer is not allowing me to download them just now, so I'll have to post those later.  We had the traditional birthday breakfast complete with presents and Spiderman plates.  He is so much fun these days.  So incredibly much work... but so much fun.  He has an awesome, vibrant personality and a million dollar smile.  He attacks life head-on, full force and with no inhibitions whatsoever.  He is talking like crazy and will jump off of anything.  Anything.  His favorite toys are Ken's wallet and his toy trucks.  He loves basketball and most any other kind of ball.  And hats, he loves hats.  He likes to use the potty but just for fun, not really in a potty-trained kind of way. He does however like to take off full diapers and play with the contents.  You're welcome.  Other than that, he's adorable most of the time.  Except when he's screaming.  But even then, one has to admire his passion for life and for whatever else it is he wants at the moment.  Passionate.  That's a good word for it.

We bought a house.  Or, are buying a house, I should say.  We are supposed to close in May.  After a year of renting, we decided to jump into the market again.  With Jake's diagnosis with are  an "Exceptional Military Family", therefore will likely be homesteaded here for the duration of Ken's career.  We like it here, the kids like it here and I could see it as a place we could grow roots.  So, rather than renting for another year, we are buying.  We'll be moving in June. Only about 2 miles down the street.  The house has plenty of room for us, a yard that invites kids to play and is in a good location.  Those were important features to us.

We lost a baby.  It sounds unimportant throwing that statement in mid-blog.  But it's not.  It is and was very important.  And hard.  He was a baby that was here and loved and named.  I found out while Ken was in Germany last month that we were pregnant again.  We were surprised but, of course, very happy.  Around 6 weeks, I could tell things weren't going well and I miscarried shortly thereafter.  We had told the kids about the baby.  When we told them of the miscarriage they were disappointed, but handled it with great eternal perspective.  Gracie just pointed out that our family in Heaven is growing.  She's right.  That makes 3 babies that we've ushered into heaven in the last few years.  I don't understand it, but I guess I don't have to.  I have lots of other thoughts on all these things, but I haven't fully processed them into words yet.  In the mean time, I'm just trusting Jesus.

Jake's therapy is going well.  We are seeing progress with him and hoping it will continue.  I'm learning alot about advocating for him and about the need for more awareness about Autism.  I could do a whole post on that.  I guess that's the social worker in me coming out.  It's also the mom in me.  I want what's best for him and I want him to have opportunities and I want him to be understood.  With or without AS, he is a joy to me.  I just love that guy.

The girls are doing well.  Although I don't want to lump them all together as "the girls" because

they couldn't possibly be more different from one another.  They are all strong and beautiful and funny and sweet... but all in amazingly unique ways.  They're loving school and really settling into life here.  

We have major things on the horizon.  Stuff that is still in the planning and processing and praying stage.  Stuff that will be hard and trying and testing.  Stuff that I will need my God to get through.  But, as mama always said, we'll cross that bridge when we get there.  I'm realizing that most of the spiritual growth in my life hasn't come by way of the easy things.  So if it's the hard things that will bring me to know Him more, then I pray that I will have the grace to embrace that.

In the  mean time, we are enjoying the fruits of all that God has blessed us with.  Warm weather, exciting days, beautiful children, fellowship, best friends, each other. 

 Life is hard.  God is good.  Don't confuse the two.  :)