Growing Kids

Although last year found us without a garden, that didn't mean things didn't grow in our world.  Our kids have all grown leaps and bounds since I have been away from the blog world.  Here is our oldest son, Matthew.  He hasn't come to visit us as much as I had hoped, but we do see him about once a month. In a few weeks, he will complete another semester of college.  I miss him being a part of our everyday life.  I cherish our daily phone conversations.

Joshua has done his fair share of growing this year.  He has adjusted well to our new life.  He is working two jobs and will be finished with his junior year of high school in May.  He has made many friends since being in his new school, and he has brought many of them to our dinner table.  I have enjoyed watching him grow into a fine young man.  Did I mention that I also love spending time with him? 

Jacob has probably grown the most these last few months.  He now outweighs Joshua and they are wearing the same clothes!  He earned several awards this year for football.  Next year he will be starting high school.  He is still very loving, unless it is early in the morning!  I think he misses the farm more than any other of the kids.  He told me just the other day that if he could have just one farm animal that he would choose the sheep.  He loved their personality.  Hopefully soon we can start getting animals again for this young man to tend.

Hope has gotten braces since we last spoke.  She has grown into quite the cook.  Here we are decorating Christmas cookies together.  She is still playing basketball and she excels in school.  I don't have to nag her about getting any of her homework completed.  She is on top of it all!  I have watched her grow in her relationship with her brothers.  She is learning how to take their jokes and responds back to them with great wittiness!  Did I mention that I enjoy having a daughter?               

Seth has grown a lot these last few months as well.  We celebrated his 7th birthday.   He is doing well in school.  He holds close to a 100% average in all of his classes.  He is still shy, but he is growing into being a more confident person.  Our neighbor has a grandson that is close to Seth's age.  These two boys spend a lot of time together, and Seth has been enjoying being with the grandparents.  He eats dinner with them a lot, and they invite him to come along on walks.  I am thankful that the Lord has put this couple into Seth's life.  It has been so good for him.  I love the fact that we still have a young child in our family.  It keeps us still seeing the world through the eyes of a child!

While all of these kids have been busy growing, Missy has been around watching it all.  Well I should say she has been busy watching in between naps! 

Michael and I have been enjoying the family that the Lord has given to us.  When my children were all little and it seemed like I would never be finished changing diapers, I often wondered what it would be like when they were older.  Let me just say, it has been great.  We have our ups and our downs just like any family, but the rewards are well worth the sacrifices.  One of our kids made a comment to us the other evening.  He said just think how much money y'all would have if you had never had any children.  We quickly reminded him that although our bank account would be much fatter, our hearts would be missing out on so much love.  I wouldn't trade that for any amount of money in the world!

grace and peace,

julie