My blogging goes in spurts. After my novel of AK I've been avoiding it. Burnt out. But it's time to start up again. The holidays are near and we have so much to be thankful for! We're approaching the time when I will be in a holi-daze. Before the craziness starts, I want to take a moment to catch up and reflect.
I have so many fun stories to share and once I get caught up on my photography work, I plan to spend some time with 'you'. :)
For now, I'll give you a brief update of what we've been up to. Shane turned 30-something on 11/1. We celebrated with a big Halloween party...fun times! He's been busy working, hanging Christmas lights, the last few weeks. So when he's home, we cherish the moments. Even with his busy schedule he managed to give me three night's out with the girls last week...he's the best. : )
Finn will turn 2 this Friday (sniff!). So very hard to believe. He is talking in full sentences, telling stories (some of which I understand), sings along to Diego, Little Einsteins and Handy Manny. He is 3' tall...which I know because Shane brought home a roll of paper tonight for an activity with the kids. It was very fun! We laid on it and traced ourselves and colored for a good hour....thus I know Finn's height! I imagine it's an average height for his age...but man, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that we went from 21" to 36" in less than two years!
Hudson has been doing awesome in school this year! He & I are getting along super...and had a 'date' just last night. I love when we click. He's a lot of fun and most days I wish I could just adopt him. I know it's not right/fair to him or his mother...but the thought of him pulling away from me once we hit a good place like this scares me. I get protective of him and wish I had free reign to love and raise him solely as my own. Like millions of other step-parents out there, it is not that easy. So we take a day at a time and I praise God for our closeness. He's calling me mom again and that has not happened since I was prego w/ Finn. It's taken us that long to get back here. I remain firm in the Lord and trust that HE knows best and will give me peace, strength and wisdom to handle every situation we face.
I have been busy, too. Finn has become less of a physical fatigue and more mental. It is shifting...already! He's sleeping well for naps and at night, but he's testing me (he's almost 2...I knew it was coming). So I am finding myself challenged in new ways every day. I'm not one to be creative on the spot...so I have to prepare. Somehow, I think he already knows this...and gives me a run for my money!
Photography was slow this summer, but picking up this fall. S&I decided not to advertise or push for business until our family is done growing (we're still trying to expand : ) and a little older. I have been researching and learning new things, though. That is one of the reasons why photography is a passion of mine...there is always room to grow! : ) I also just wrapped up my first Beth Moore study. WOW. Talk about having a gift. She is amazing and stretched my faith in ways I didn't know possible. We'll start another one in late January. Till then I can dig into some of my other books. I was silly enough to take on a second study through our church this fall too...and keeping up with both of them was great (and extremely busy).
So our famiy will go into this Thanksgiving week with peace. : ) God has blessed us far beyond what I, personally, deserve. My heart is humbled when I look at his provisions and I am consumed by his grace. Here are my top 5 reasons I'm thankful:
1. My family is strong, safe and healthy. Thank you Lord!
2. My husband is the best man for me...and I love his hard work in supporting our family and to continually work with me to grow closer as we grow through life.
3. Our children. They make me laugh, cry and sometimes scream...usually all in a day's time. Life is full. Life is good!
4. Our home, comforts and nourishment...especially in this economy. We feel tremendously blessed.
5. My friends. I have the best girlfriends...here and in CO and in AK and in New England and in CA and in AZ. Some are family, some are acquired family. But all of them give me inspiration in their individual beauty, strength and charm.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.